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University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

Purchased  from 

THOMAS  W.  STREETER 
BEQUEST 


SCOTT'S 


CAMPAIGN  IN  MEXICO; 


FROM    THE 


RENDEZVOUS  ON  THE  ISLM  OF  LOBOS 

* 


TO    THE 


TAKING  OF  THE   CITY, 


INCLUDING     AN    ACCOUNT    OF     THE 


SIEGE  OP  PUEBLA, 


Wmi  SKETCHES  OF  THE  COUNTRY,  AND  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 
OF  THE  INHABITANTS. 


BY  H.   JUDGE   MOORE, 

OF  THE  PALMETTO  REGIMENT. 


CHARLESTON: 

3.  B.  NIXON,  PUBLISHER,  48  BROAD-STREET, 

1849. 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849, 

By  H.  JUDGE  MOORE, 
In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  of  South  Carolina. 


PREFACE. 

When,  "in  the  course  of  human  events,"  it  becomes  neces 
sary  for  a  nation  to  send  forth  her  armies,  either  to  battle  for 
her  liberties  upon  her  own  borders  and  drive  from  her  shores 
%1    the  ruthless  invaders  of  her  rights,  or  to  fight  for  the  honor  o^ 
^    her  flag  upon  a  foreign  soil,  the  movements,  and  victories,  and 
^  reverses  which  may  attend  the  marcft  of  those  armies,  are 
•^     looked  upon  with  the  most  vital  and  abiding  interest  by  all 
X^  classes  and  departments  of  that  nation  which  sent  them  forth 
J     to  the  field,  and  whose  honor  as  a  people,  or  existence  as  an 
5     independent  nation,  may  depend  upon  the  issue.     And  then, 
when  the  storm  of  battle  is  past,  and  the  gory  wheels  of  the 
Juggernaut  of  war  stands  still,  and  the  wrails  that  go  up  from 
ji,    the  field  of  mortal  combat,  shall  be  changed  into  the  songs  of 
^     rejoicing  and  the  pseans  of  returning  peace,  it  is  naturally  ex- 
L"^"pected  by  that  nation,  and  by  the  world,  that  some  one  familiar 
with  the  stirring  events,  some  actor  in  the  thrilling  drama,  who 
^     moved  among  the  battling  legions,  and  looked  out  upon  the 
^*-  shock  where  contending  armies  met,  and  valor  fought  and  bled, 
should  take  up  the  pen  ot  the  historian,  and  for  the  pleasure 
and  information  of  mankind,  chronicle,  with  a  free  and  impar 
tial  hand,  and  an  unbiassed  head,  the  most  prominent  features 
of  the  war,  and  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  happy  and 
successful  termination  of  the  conflict. 

Professing  some  knowledge  of  the  facts  and  incidents  which 
I  have  here  related,  and  feeling  confident  that  the  whole  truth 
has  not  yet  been  told,  I  have,  with  some  care  and  research, 
thrown  together  the  following  pages,  hoping  to  be  able  to  invest 
the  "thrice  told  tale"  with  something  new,  and  record  some 
thing  that  may  have  a  tendency  to  instruct  and  amuse  the  gen 
eral  reader.  In  the  prosecution  of  the  present  work,  I  have 
had  to  labor  under  many  disadvantages,  which  may  have  tended 
to  lessen,  in  some  degree,  the  interest  with  which  I  had  hoped 


PREFACE. 


to  invest  its  pages.  In  the  first  place,  the  time  which  I  allowed 
myself  for  its  completion  was  so  limited  as  to  compel  me  to 
write  more  hurriedly  than  I  could  have  wished,  and  laboring  at 
the  same  time  under  (he  debility  and  enervation  occasioned  by 
protracted  disease,  brought  on  by  exposure  and  fatigue  in  a 
sickly  and  ungenial  climate.  Accuracy  of  detail,  and  a  strict 
regard  for  historical  truth,  have,  in  every  instance,  been  the 
main  and  prominent  objects  Avhich  I  have  had  constantly  in 
view.  How  far  that  desideratum  has  been  accomplished  must  be 
left  to  the  decision  of  an  impartial  public  opinion,  at  whose  bar 
I  am  willing  that  the  literary  and  historical  merits-of  my  labors 
shall  stand  or  fall.  I  feel  the  more  easy  and  confident  as  to  the 
result  of  my  labors,  as  I  have  no  extended  reputation  as  a 
writer  to  stake  or  sustain  upon  the  issue  of  success  or  failure, 
this  being  my  debut  before  the  public  —  my  first  intrusion  into 
the  ranks  of  historical  writers. 

Knowing  that  a  general  and  abiding  interest  is  felt,  more 
especially  by  the  people  of  this  country,  in  the  history  of  the 
Avar  which  has  recently  terminated  the  difficulties  between  the 
sister  Republics  of  Mexico  and  the  United  States,  and  having" 
seen  no  work  written  in  the  South,  giving  a  detailed  account  of 
the  operations  of  Scott's  Campaign,  from  the  surrender  of  Vera 
Cruz  to  the  reduction  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  I  have  been  in 
duced  to  make  an  attempt  at  supplying  the  public  with  that  desi 
deratum  in  the  form  of  the  present  work,  And  having  been  an 
humble  actor  in  many  of  the  scenes  which  are  here  described, 
the  result  of  my  own  immediate  <^servations  has  generally  been 
given,  and  where  thai  has  failed,  I  have  depended  for  facts  upon 
the  most  reliable  resources  within  my  reach,  such  as  official 
papers  and  authentic  documents.  Having  been  so  unfortunate 
as  to  lose  my  notes,  which  I  had  written  with  some  care  and 
attention  during  intervals  of  camp  duty,  I  acknowledge  my  in 
debtedness  to  W.  M.  Goodlett,  Esq.,  of  the  Palmetto  Regiment, 
who  was  kind  enough  to  allow  me  the  use  of  his  notes,  which 
I  found  to  be  of  great  advantage  to  me,  not  only  in  reference  to 
dates  and  places,  but  in  some  important  historical  facts;  and  as 
historical  truth,  in  preference  to  speculative  originality,  has 


PREFACE.  r 

been  my  chief  aim,  I  have  not  scrupled  to  use  every  facility 
within  my  reach  to  accomplish  that  desired  end. 

In  reference  to  the  movements  of  our  army  in  the  Valley  of 
Mexico,  and  the  bloody  and  decisive  battles  before  the  city,  I 
was  very  much  assisted  by  the  examination  of  official  reports, 
which  I  found  to  be  very  full  and  complete,  and  which  can  gen 
erally  be  credited  with  more  implicit  reliance  than  most  other 
sources  of  information,  carrying  with  them,  as  they  do,  the  high 
seal  of  official  veracity.  In  glancing  at  the  history  of  the  peo 
ple  and  country  of  Mexico.  I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  for 
many  interesting  and  important  historical  facts  to  the  able  and 
graphic  works  of  Thompson,  Robinson.  Kendall,  Mayer,  Hum- 
boldt,  Prescott,  Poinsett,  and  others,  which  I  had  the  privilege 
of  consulting,  and  from  which  I  derived  infinite  advantage, 
while  sketching  the  foljowing  pages.  In  the  work  now  pre 
sented  to  the  public,  inaccuracies  may  occur,  otherwise  it  would 
be  an  anomaly  in  historical  writing.  Different  persons  ever 
have,  and  ever  will,  hold  different  opinions  and  give  different 
versions  of  a  transaction  or  train  of  events,  even  where  both 
are  alike  spectators ;  but  wherever  it  was  reliable,  or  founded 
on  personal  observation,  I  have  invariably  given  my  own  opin 
ion  in  preference  to  that  of  any  one  else,  then  the  public  can 
compare  and  choose  for  themselves. 

In  many  particulars  I  have  had  to  depend  on  memory,  and 
where  I  have  been  compelled  to  transcend  the  bounds  of  my 
own  observation,  I  have  had  recourse  to  the  most  reliable  and 
authentic  sources  of  information  within  my  reach.  I  have 
carefully  endeavored  to  avoid  the  display  of  any  partisan  feel 
ing,  or  sectional  prejudice,  the  manifest  tendency  of  which  would 
be  to  bias  the  mind,  contract  the  feelings,  trammel  the  liberal 
sentiments  of  the  patriot  and  philanthropist,  and  pervert  the 
truth  of  history.  I  have  indulged  in  no  vague  speculations  upon 
the  cause  or  origin  of  the  war,  whether  it  was  just  or  unjust,  or 
to'  what  person  or  party  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  and 
the  unfortunate  rupture  between  the  two  Republics,  might  be 
attributed.  My  business,  as  a  faithful  and  impartial  chronicler 
of  events,  has  been  to  give  the  facts  and  circumstances,  incident 


V  fRKFACE. 

upon  a  state  of  the  war  as  it  existed,  together  with  some  of  th« 
most  prominent  and  leading  features  which  distinguished  tha 
prosecution  of  that  interesting  and  eventful  campaign.  I  hava 
endeavored  to  give  all  parties,  all  arms  of  the  service,  from 
whatever  part  of  the  Union  they  might  have  come,  their  just 
and  equitable  "place  in  the  picture,"  without  being  influenced 
by  party  prejudices  or  local  considerations:  and  though  being 
myself  a  member  of  a  Southern  Regiment,  yet  I  have  endea 
vored,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  to  render  unto  every  regiment 
in  the  service  its  due  meed  of  praise. 

Party  distinctions  and  sectional  jealousies  may  divide  us  at 
home,  and  array,  in  the  bitterness  of  political  animosities,  one 
portion  of  the  Union  against  another,  but  when  fighting  a  com 
mon  enemy,  in  one  great  common  cause,  where  the  interests  of 
the  whole  country  are  involved,  we  are  all  united ;  party  feelings 
are  forgotten,  or  merged  in  more  important  considerations,  and 
all  are  bound  for  the  time  in  the  tripple  cords  of  one  great  and 
common  brotherhood.  Those  of  different  feelings  and  senti 
ments  at  home,  and  who  would  have  become  warm  and  even 
bitter  in  denouncing  their  opponents  while  discussing  the  pro 
priety  of  a  question  of  State  policy,  buried  their  political  ani 
mosities  and  party  bickerings  upon  the  battle  field,  and  strug 
gled  side  by  side  up  the  rugged  steeps  of  Chapultepec,  and 
fought  in  mingling  columns  before  the  bloody  gates  of  the  Belen 
and  San  Cos  me. 

The  war  with  Mexico  has  solved  the  problem  of  the  efficiency 
of  the  citizen  soldiery  of  America,  either  upon  a  defensive  or 
an  offensive  field — on  the  genial  soil  of  her  own  sunny  land, 
and  amid  the  poisonous  malaria  of  a  foreign  clirne — at  home 
or  abroad,  on  the  land  or  the  sea,  wherever  her  flag  has  been 
unfurled,  and  the  tocsin  call  to  arms  has  been  sounded,  there  she 
has  rallied  her  own  Spartan  band,  and  the  strong  arms  and 
stout  hearts  of  her  citizen  soldiers  have  never  failed  to  carry  it 
on  to  victory. 

The  world  has  just  witnessed,  in  wild  amaze  and  mute  aston 
ishment  a  feat  of  arms  which  stands  without  a  parallel  in  the 
annals  of  war,  in  which  the  young  Republic  of  America,  witk 


PREFACE.  *A 

a  mere  handful  of  raw  recruits,  carried  her  victorious  standard 
from  the  mighty  frontier  to  the  populous  heart  of  a  powerful 
and  warlike  nation ;  and  in  the  face  of  more  than  four  times 
her  numbers  of  bloody  and  exasperated  foes,  successfully  de 
fended  the  honor  of  her  flag  upon  the  threshold  of  a  foreig* 
capital. 

GREENVILLE,  S.  C.,  Aug.  27,  1849. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENERAL  rendezvous  of  Gen.  Scott's  army  at  the  Island  of  Lobos — 
Description  of  the  Island — Wreck  of  the  Ondiaka — the  Fleet 
leaves  Lobos,  and  casts  anchor  at  Point  Lizardo — Landing  at 
Vera  Cruz — Erection  of  .batteries  about  the  city — Skirmishes 
on  the  heights.  -  -  -  . 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Opening  of  the  American  batteries  on  the  Castie  and  City  of  Vera 
Cruz — a  proximate  view  of  the  enemy's  lines  of  batteries — 
Worth's  batteries  near  the  cemetery — Captain  Vinton  killed — 
Fearful  effect  of  the  American  Batteries  upon  the  City — Gen 
eral  Landero  proposes  to  suspend  hostilities,  in  order  to  consi 
der  the  terms  of  a  surrender.  --• 10 

CHAPTER  III. 

Col.  Barney's  Dragoon  fight  at  the  Bridge  of  Madellen — the  Mex 
ican  lance — Mexican  cavalry — Skirmishing  between  Twiggs' 
brigade  and  the  Lancers — Surrender  of  the  City  of  Vera  Cruz 
— Hoisting  the  American  flag  upon  the  Castle  and  forts  about 
the  City. 16 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Correspondence  between  Gen.  Scott  and  Gen.'s  Landero  and  More- 
les — Articles  of  capitulation — Correspondence  between  Gen. 
Scott  and  the  foreign  Consuls  at  Vera  Cruz — Despatch  to  the 
Secretary  of  War, 24 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Northers — their  effects  upon  our  shipping — Critical  notice  of  a     . 
work  entitled  "  Adventures  in  Mexico  and  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains,"  by  George  F.  Ruxton.    -    -    - 37 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Quitman's  brigade  marches  for  Alvarado — Description  of  the  route 
— Great  suffering  of  the  men — Scarcity  of  water — Excessive 
heat  of  the  weather — a  myrage — Arrival  at  Alvarado — Kind 
ness  of  the  women — The  "  Baker  Girl  of  Alvarado" — Kendall's 
opkiion  of  the  Mexican  ladies — Lieutenant  Hunter — Court- 
martialled  and  suspended  for  firing  upon  the  town  of  Alvara 
do — Twiggs  at  Plan  del  Rio — Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  -  -  -  *44 

CHAPTER  VII 

The  Mexican  army  is  routed  and  flies  towards  Jalapa — The  pur 
suit  of  the  American  army — Gen.  Scott  enters  the  city  of  Ja 
lapa  without  opposition — The  situation  of  Jalapa — Its  houses, 


X  CONTENTS. 

churches  and  inhabitants — The  ladies  of  Jalapa — their  beauty 
and  traits  of  character — The  American  camp  three  miles  be 
yond  Jalapa — Worth  pushes  on  to  Perote — Takes  possession 
of  the  castle — "  The  Black  Pass" — Its  military  defences — the 
farms  and  face  of  the  country — Slaves  in  Mexico — Las  Vegas 
— Perote  ;  the  City  and  Castle — The  beautiful  Indian  Girl  of 
Perote.  -  64 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Th«  markets  of  Perote — Whirlwinds — The  Maguey,  or  American 
Aloes — Pulque — Leave  Perote — Our  camp  at  San  Antonio — 


-Camp 

horses — the  Lassie — Stage  coaches — The  littera — Skirmish 
between  Worth  and  Santa  Anna — Camp  at  Amozaque — Arri 
val  at  Puebla.  - 82 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Sketch  of  the  city  of  Puebla — The  Cathedral — Solemnity  of  the 
ceremonies  of  the  Catholic  church — The  cemetery — The  mar 
ket — Articles  of  food — Chile-soup — Tortillas — Frijoles — Pan- 
damice — Mexican  politeness — Different  Mexican  and  Spanish 
coins — The  stores — Lady  clerks — Indian  market  girls — Dress 
of  the  Ladies. - 98 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  ruins  and  pyramid  of  CJiolula — Dreadful  massacre  of  the  Cho- 
lulans  by  Cortez  and  his  army — The  country  and  city  of  Tlas- 
cala — Critical  position  of  the  American  army  at  "Puebla — 
Extraordinary  vigilance  on  the  part  of  General  Worth — A 
woman  murdered  by  her  husband— The  lower  classes  of  Puebla 
— Their  lodgings — Their  meals — Diarrhoea ;  its  fatal  effects — 
Beggars— The  Theatre— The  Circus.  -  -  --  -'-  -  -118 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Stay  of  the  American  Army  at  Puebla — Its  departure  for  the  city 
of  Mexico — Great  excitement  in  the  city  on  the  approach  of 
General  Scott — Fortifications  at  Pinal — Our  army  marches  to 
wards  San  Augustin — Worth  reconnoitres  the  works  of  San 
Antonio — Captain  Thornton  killed — Battle  of  Contreras — Va 
lencia's  forces  routed — Worth  storms  the  works  of  San  Antonio.  124 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Battle  of  Churubusco — Overwhelming  superiority  of  the  Mexican 
forces — Tete  dupont — Church,  or  Fortified  Convent — Desperate 
efforts  of  Riley's  deserters — Charge  of  Shields'  brigade — 
Great  slaughter  of  his  troops — Death  of  Colonel  Butler — The 
American  army  halted  at  the  gates  of  the  city — The  armistice 
— Its  articles  violated  by  General  Santa  Anna — Hostilities  re 
commenced  by  General  Scott.  -  -  139 


CONTENTS.  II 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Battle  of  Molino  del  Key — Worth's  force  in  the  fight — Overwhelm 
ing  superiority  of  the  Mexican  forces — their  advantage  of 
position — Fearful  effects  of  Huger's  guns — Heroism  of  Major 
Wright  and  his  storming  party — The  complete  rout  of  the 
Mexican  forces — Great  loss  of  Worth's  command — Stubborn 
defence  of  the  Mexican  works — Casa  Mata  blown  up — De 
struction  of  the  cannon  foundry — Worth  draws  off  his  forces 
and  retires  to  Tacubaya,  in  obedience  to  orders  from  the  com- 
mander-in-chief.  -156 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Storming  the  Castle  of  Chapultepec — Position  of  Pillow's  division — 
Position  of  Quitman's  division — Twiggs  threatens  the  enemy 
at  the  south  gate  of  the  city — The  storming  parties — The 
assault  by  the  American  forces' — Gen.  Pillow  wounded — Major 
Twiggs  killed — Worth  sends  Clark's  brigade  to  reinforce  Pil 
low's  division — The  mines — Scaling  the  works,  and  rout  of  the 
enemy — The  American  flag  hoisted  on  the  walls  of  the  Castle.  16* 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Mexican  army  is  pursued  towards  the  gates  of  the  city — 
Worth  takes  the  rout  of  the  San  Cosme  gate — Quitman  goes 
towards  the  Garita  de  Belen — The  aqueducts — The  causeway 
Worth  fights  his  way  into  the  suburbs  of  the  city — Advances 
a  howitzer  battery — Bivouacks  for  the  night  near  the  San 
Cosme  custom  house — Quitman  presses  the  gates  of  the  Belea 
— Enters  the  walls  of  the  city — The  city  authorities  propose  a 
surrender — Quitman  first  reaches  the  main  plaza — Hoists  the 
Btars  and  stripes  upon  the  National  Palace — Extract  from  Gen. 
Quitman's  report.  ---- l«ff 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Numerical  forces  of  Gen.  Scott's  army  in  the  valley  of  Mexico — 
Numerical  strength  of  the  Mexicans — Numbers  of  American 
troops  engaged  in  each  battle — Number  of  men  with  which 
Gen.  Scott  entered  the  city  of  Mexico — Loss  of  the  enemy — 
Scattered  fragments  of  the  Mexican  army — General  Quitman 
appointed  Governor  of  Mexico — Recapitulation — Patriotism  of 
the  Mexican  ladies — Unparalleled  exertions  to  save  the  city — 
The  priests — The  "Polka  Guards" — Women  serving  at  the 
guns — Extract  of  an  article  written  by  a  Mexican — Colonel 
Dominguez's  spy  company — The  meaning  of  the  'word  patriot 
ism  in  Mexico. 18f 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Santa  Anna — Public  opinion  concerning  his  patriotism,  courage  and 
energy  of  character — He  passes  the  blockade  at  Vera  Cruz — 
Condition  in  which  he  finds  his  country — His  efforts  to  raise  an 
army  and  infuse  a  spirit  of  resistance  into  his  countrymen — 
Organizes  an  army  of  20,000  men  at  San  Luis — Meets  and 


Jll  CONTESTS. 

fights  General  Taylor  at  Buena  Vista — Marches  to  meet  Scott 
at  Cerro  Gordo — The  part  which  he  bore  in  the  revolution 
which  secured  to  Mexico  her  independence — His  personal 
appearance. 200 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  forces  left  by  General  Scott  to  garrison  Puebla — The  hospital-— 
The  passeo — Times  look  squally — Forces  concentrated  at  or 
near  the  Cuartel — Attack  on  the  wagon  yard,  and  the  Guer 
rilla  fight — Siege  of  Puebla — its  duration — its  consequences — 
Fort  Loretto — Fort  Gaudaloupe — Sickness  of  the  garrison— 
Great  mortality  from  typhoid  fever — Hospitality  and  kindness 
shown  by  the  Mexican  ladies  to  the  American  soldiers — The 
beautiful  market  girl — Arrival  of  Santa  Anna  before  the  city — 
Demands  the  surrender  of  the  garrison — Is  refused  by  Colonel 
Childs — Battle  of  Huamantla — Death  of  Captain  Walker — 
Arrival  of  Gen.  Lane  at  Puebla,  and  relief  of  the  garrison.  212 

Report  of  Colonel  Childs  of  the  Siege  of  Puebla. 22» 


SCOTT'S 

CAMPAIGN  IN  MEXICO. 


CHAPTER  I. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  the  3d  day  of  February,  1847,  the 
ship  Ellerslie,  Captain  York,  seven  days  out  from  Mobile,  cast 
anchor  near  the  Island  of  Lobos.  The  next  morning,  the  de 
barkation  of  the  troops  commenced ;  and  on  reaching  the  Island 
it  was  found  that  the  Louisiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Marks, 
and  the  first  Pennsylvania  regiment,  under  Colonel  Wynkoop, 
had  landed  a  few  clays  before,  and  had  pitched  their  tents,  and 
were  then  engaged  in  clearing  away  the  chaparral,  which  was 
very  dense,  for  the  purpose  of  making  room  for  a  convenient 
parade  ground.  There  were  now  six  vessels  in  the  harbor, 
and  three  regiments  encamped  on  the  island,  and  vessels  were 
arriving  daily,  laden  with  large  numbers  of  troops,  from  differ 
ent  parts  of  the  United  States.  This  island  was  designated  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief  as  a  favorable  position  for  the  gen 
eral  rendezvous  of  his  army,  which  was  designed  to  operate 
against  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  de 
Ulloa.  It  is  two  miles  in  circumference,  and  appears  to  be 
chiefly  composed  of  a  formation  of  sea  shells,  which  at  first 
has  the  appearance  of  coarse  sand. 

This  island  is  situated  about  one  hundred  miles  from  Vera 
Cruz,  and  from  about  ten  to  fifteen  miles  from  the  main  land. 
We  could  easily  discern  the  watch-fires  of  the  enemy  on  the 
beach  at  night,  who  were  probably  endeavoring  to  reconnoitre 
our  position  from  some  elevated  point,  for  the  purpose  of  deter 
mining,  as  near  as  possible,  the  number  of  our  troops  and  ships, 
together  with  the  most  probable  point  at  which  we  intended  to 
land.  This  island  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  romantic 
spots  that  the  mind  of  man  can  well  conceive;  it  took  its  name 
from  the  number  ot  soals  found  in  its  vicinity,  and  which  are 
called  by  the  natives  "  sea  wolves,"  and  hence  the  name  Lobos, 
which  is  only  a  corruption  of  the  Latin  word  lupus,  a  wolf. 
Its  appearance,  when  seen  from  a  vessel  at  a  distance,  is  like 
that  of  a  green  speck  or  bubble,  floating  upon  the  blue  and 


SCOTT'S  CAEPAIGN 


placid  bosom  of  the  gulf;  and  the  surf  or  breakers  by  which 
it  is  surrounded,  look  like  the  distant  tops  of  mountains  of  snow. 

Its  temperature  is  that  of  perpetual  summer,  and  the  weather 
would  be  excessively  hot  were  it  not  moderated  by  the  refresh 
ing  breezes  which  almost  constantly  blow  from  the  gulf,  and 
which,  at  particular  hours  of  the  day,  have  a  tendency  to  mo- 
derate  the  heat,  and  render  it  more  tolerable.  We  found  the 
weather  equally  as  hot  there  on  the  first  of  February  as  it  is  in 
the  Southern  States  in  July  and  August.  The  troops  were  very 
much  rejoiced  at  being  able,  once  more,  to  set  their  feet  on 
terra  firma,  after  being  crowded  together,  like  so  many  sheep, 
onboard  a  merchant  vessel,  and  under  the  scorching  rays  of  a 
tropical  sun.  for  ten,  jSfteen  or  twenty  days. 

On  this  island  we  found  very  few  traces  by  which  we  could 
determine  that  it  had  ever  been  visited  or  inhabited  by  man, 
either  in  a  civilized  or  barbarous  state,  and  those  appeared  to 
be  of  rather  ancient  date.  We  found  the  likeness  of  the 
British  flag,  and  another  which  resembled  somewhat  that  of  the 
United  States,  together  with  some  letters,  cat  upon  the  bark  of 
a  tree,  and  a  very  old  date,  .the  exact  year  of  which  1  do  not 
now  remember.  The  banyan  and  cocoa,  together  with  various 
other  trees  and  shrubs,  most  of  which  were  new  to  me,  were 
found  upon  the  island,  growing  in  all  the  green  luxuriant  beauty 
of  that  land  of  eternal  spring.  We  found  what  appeared  to  be 
a  grave,  and  a  well,  which  had  been  dug  to  some  depth,  and 
then  filled  up  with  brush  and  sticks  of  timber.  We  found  the 
water  to  be  quite  warm  and  brackish,  and  which  could  only  be 
obtained  by  digging  holes  in  the  sand  to  the  depth  of  some 
three  or  four  feet,  in  which  the  water  would  rise  to  a  sufficient 
height  to  enable  us  to  dip  it  out  with  tin  cups,  and  which  could 
have  been  nothing  more  than  the  salt  water  from  the  Gulf 
drained  through  the  sand,  very  small  quantities  of  which  would 
act  upon  the  bowels  like  a  purgative. 

At  first,  the  officers  attempted  to  furnish  us  with  water  from 
the  vessels,  but  even  that  had  a  kind  of  putrid  taste  and  smell 
which  made  it  very  offensive,  so  much  so  that  the  men  could  only 
be  induced  to  use  it  in  cases  of  extreme  necessity.  This  fetid 
quality  of  the  water  was  caused  by  its  being  put  up  in  unclean 
casks,  such  as  had  contained  fish,  molasses,  &c.  And  I  think 
to  this  cause,  more  particularly  than  any  other,  may  be  attributed 
the  rise  and  progress  of  that  fearful  camp  malady  called  diar 
rhoea,  whose  desolating  course  afterwards  swept  through  our 
ranks  with  the  strides  of  wasting  pestilence,  leaving  death  and 
destruction  in  its  rear. 

Our  safe  and  peaceful  rendezvous  upon  this  beautiful  and 


IN  MEXICO.  S 

lovely  island,  impressed  upon  my  mind,  more  forcibly  than  ever 
the  martial  imbecility  of  the  Mexican  people,  or  their  unbounded 
confidence  in  the  strength  of  their  fortified  positions,  one  of 
which  caused  them  to  refrain  from  using  the  advantage  which 
they  otherwise  might  have  gained  over  us  in  our  almost  de 
fenceless  position.  Here  we  were  encamped  within  full  view 
of  the  main  land,  and  in  less  than  one  hundred  miles  of  Vera 
Cruz,  without  artillery  or  fortifications,  with  forty  or  fifty 
merchant  vessels,  loaded  with  military  stores,  all  of  which  were 
protected  by  one  single  man-of-war,  and  that  arrived  some 
eight  or  ten  days  after  the  island  was  occupied.  I  would  haz- 
zard  the  assertion,  that  a  frigate's  crew,  with  a  dozen  gun  boats 
well  manned,  could  have  sunk  or  captured  every  vessel  in  the 
harbor,  and  thus  have  left  us  in  our  isolated  position,  almost 
without  provision,  arms  or  ammunition. 

But  no  attempt  was  made  on  their  part  to  disturb  the  quiet 
repose  of  our  pleasant  and  peaceful  retreat;  perhaps  they 
hoped,  by  so  doing,  to  lure  us  on  into  a  more  certain  and  deadly 
snare,  and  render  our  escape  more  hopeless,  by  drawing  us 
within  the  destructive  range  of  the  guns  of  the  proud  and  im 
pregnable  castle  of  San  Juan  do  Ulloa,  which  was  designed  to' 
be  the  bloody  engine  that  should  turn  our  tall  ships  of  war  into 
slaughter  pens,  and  enrich  the  sterile  plains  of  Vera  Cruz  with 
the  warm  hearts  blood  of  an  American  army  cut  to  pieces. 
About  a  week  after  our  arrival  on  the  island,  a  boat  reached 
our  squadron,  bringing  intelligence  of  the  wreck  of  the  Ondi- 
aka,  Captain  Healy,  which  had  been  driven  ashore  by  a  violent 
Norther,  some  twenty  miles  north  of  our  fleet,  containing  a  de 
tachment  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  Louisiana  troops,  who 
had  escaped  safe  ashore  from  the  wrecked  vessel,  and  were 
surrounded  by  a  large  body  of  Mexicans,  and  were  also  destitute 
of  either  arms  or  provision.  The  next  morning,  at  daylight, 
the  St.  Marys,  man  of  war,  weighed  anchor  and  hastened  to 
their  relief,  which  was  soon  followed  by  a  schooner,  with  a 
small  detachment  of  the  Louisiana  regiment,  which  had  been 
more  fortunate  than  their  fellows,  and  had  landed  safely  on  the 
island  a  few  days  before.  On  the  next  morning,  the  schooner 
returned,  bringing  the  welcome  intelligence  that  the  wrecked 
troops  had  made  their  escape,  under  cover  of  the  darkness  ot 
the  night,  and  had  gone  off  in  the  direction  of  Tampico.  In 
order  to  elude  the  observation  of  the  forces  that  surroundecl 
them,  they  left  their  tents  standing,  and  their  camp  fires  burn 
ing,  together  with  one  sick  man,  whom  they  were  unable  to 
carry  with  them,  and  who  was  afterwards  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Mexicans,  who,  he  said,  furnished  him  with  the  necessary 


4  SCOTT  S    CAMPAIGN 

supplies  of  food  and  clothing,  and  treated  him  in  every  way 
very  kindly;  and  on  the  appearance  of  the  St.  Marys  and  the 
schooner,  he  was  sent  on  horseback  to  the  beach,  and  safely 
delivered  up  to  his  friends,  and  from  whom  the  foregoing  par 
ticulars  were  obtained. 

Fresh  levies  of  troops  continued  to  arrive  daily,  until  the 
island  was  almost  completely  covered  with  long  extended  lines 
of  snow  white  tents,  which  reached  from  beach  to  beach,  barely 
leaving  space  enough  to  drill  the  different  regiments.  I  never 
was  able  to  ascertain  exactly  the  number  of  troops  that  were 
concentrated  at  this  point,  but  it  included  almost  the  whole  force 
which  was  destined  to  operate  against  Vera  Cruz  and  the 
Castle,  and  must  havejbeen  very  little  short  oi  fourteen  thousand 
effective  men. 

It  was  rumored  in  camp,  not  long  before  our  departure,  that 
General  Scott  had  started  an  express  for  General  Taylor,  under 
a  guard,  consisting  of  some  forty  or  fifty  men,  with  despatches 
containing  a  plan  of  the  campaign,  together  with  his  future 
movements,  should  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  Castle  fall 
into  his  hands.  This  guard  was  said  to  have  been  attacked  and 
taken  prisoners  by  a  large  party  of  Guerrillas  or  Mexican  rob 
bers,  while  the  officer  commanding  it  was  disarmed,  stripped 
and  tied  to  a  tree,  after  which  his  heart  was  cut  out  and  exposed 
upon  a  pole.  This  had  a  tendency  to  give  us  some  idea  of  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  enemy  with  whom  we  had  to  deal,  and 
the  treatment  we  might  expect  of  them,  should  we  be  so  unfor 
tunate  as  to  fall  into  their  hands. 

The  enemy's  watch  fires  appeared  to  be  still  increasing  on 
the  beach,  which  led  us  to  believe  that  large  bodies  of  them 
were  collecting  from  the  interior,  actuated,  no  doubt,  with  the 
belief  that  Gen.  Scott  intended  to  land  a  portion  of  his  troops 
somewhere  in  that  vicinity.  But  in  this,  as  well  as  many  other 
things,  they  were  sadly  disappointed,  for  all  the  forces  on  the 
island  were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to  embark  for  Point 
Lizardo  on  the  first  of  March,  but  owing  to  contrary  winds, 
and  other  unavoidable  delays,  we  were  not  able  to  get  under 
way  until  the  third;  on  the  afternoon  of  which  day  the  whole 
fleet  was  put  in  motion,  dotting  the  bosom  of  the  Gulf  for  miles 
around  with  the  white  canvass  of  more  than  sixty  vessels,  all 
bearing  down  under  a  stiff  breeze  towards  Point  Lizardo, 
where  we  again  came  to  anchor  in  full  view  of  the  lofty  domes 
and  steeples  of  that  city  on  whose  walls  Hernando  Cortez  first 
planted  the  standard  of  the  true  cross  more  than  three  hundred 
years  ago.  Here  we  lay  for  several  days,  during  which  time 
we  were  employed  in  putting  our  arms  and  accoutrements  in 


IN  MEXICO.  5 

order,  and  then  awaited  a  favorable  breeze  t  >  wa*t  us  to  the 
little  island  of  Sacrkicios,  which  is  situated  s  me  three  miles 
below  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  near  which  point  it  was  now 
determined  that  the  .army  of  invasion  should  b  •  landed.  And 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  ninth  of  March,  all  hings  being  in 
readiness,  we  weighed  anchor  at  Point  Lizard*  ,  and  moved  off 
in  gallant  style,  and  under  a  stiff  breeze,  for  01  t*  intended  point 
of  landing  below  the  city. 

The  broad  canvass  of  our  tall  ships  whitened  the  blue  waters 
of  the  Gulf  for  miles  in  all  directions,  at  the  sai  ie  time  present, 
ing  a  martial  aspect  at  once  awful  and  sublim  •-.  Here  might 
have  been  seen  more  than  sixty  gallant  vessels,  with  their  proud 
pennons  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  loaded  with  military  stores, 
and  their  decks  crowded  with  warlike  thousands,  who  had  but 
recently  left  the  peaceful  avocations  of  hom< ,  and  are  now 
looking  out  from  among  the  masts  and  rigging  upon  the  fields 
which  were  to  be  won  with  their  valor,  or  fat  oned  with  their 
blood ;  and  the  proud  walls  of  the  city  which  were  to  crumble 
before  the  thunder  of  their  artillery,  or  be  the  sol  lier's  sepulchre* 
Time  can  never  erase  from  my  mind  the  impressions  that  were 
made  by  the  scenes  that  surrounded  me,  on  that  beautiful  and 
lovely  evening  that  found  our  fleet  at  anchor  off  the  island  of 
Sacrificios.  The  sky  was  perfectly  clear,  and  the  sun  was  just 
disappearing  behind  the  snow-capped  peak  of  Orazabo;  and  the 
tall  sand  hills  that  rose  abruptly  from  the  beach,  pushing  their 
naked  and  shrubless  summits  to  the  very  clouds  of  heaven,  from 
behind  which  we  expected  every  moment  that  a  sheet  of  living 
fire  would  burst  upon  us  from  a  masked  battery  of  heavy  artil 
lery,  which  the  enemy  had  ample  time  to  have  erected,  after 
they  might  have  been  satisfied  as  to  our  intended  point  of  land 
ing.  And  such  an  obstacle  might  have  greatly  retarded,  if 
not  entirely  cut  oft',  our  debarkation,  as  the  only  mode  we  had 
of  reaching  the  coast,  which  was  more  than  a  mile  from  the 
fleet,  was  in  surf  boats,  containing  from  about  fifty  to  a  hundred 
men  each.  And  we  were  led  for  a  moment  to  believe  that  such 
was  the  case,  and  that  a  warm  and  fearful  reception  awaited  us, 
from  the  circumstance  of  our  being  able  to  distinguish  large 
numbers  of  horsemen  and  footmen  hurrying  to  and  fro  upon 
the  beach,  apparently  much  agitated  and  in  great  confusion. 
In  anticipation  of  such  an  event,  several  of  our  largest  ships 
of  the  line  were  manned  and  brought  in  position  for  the  purpose 
of  protecting,  as  much  as  possible,  the  landing  of  the  troops  ; 
but  even  they  might  have  proved  insufficient  for  our  purposes, 
had  they  been  promptly  met  by  a  strong  line  of  batteries  on  the 
heights.  But  no  opposition  was  offered  to  our  landing ;  not  a 


gun  was  fired  to  tell  that  an  enemy  was  near;  and  thus  the 
advantages  which  might  have  been  gained  over  the  invading 
forces,  and  which  might  have  told  with  startling  effect  upon 
our  future  movements,  and  probably  have- influenced  the  lead 
ing  features  of  the  whole  campaign,  were  permitted  to  pass  by 
unimproved. 

A  little  before  sun  down,  the  line  of  surf  boats  composed  of 
Worth's  division,  was  in  reapiness  to  move  towards  the  beach, 
and  at  a  signal  given,  every  boat  was  put  in  motion,  and  with 
the  stars  and  stripes  waving  at  the  helm,  the  long  and  unbroken 
line  of  near  one  hundred  boats  moved  off  simultaneously  and  in 
gallant  style,  preceded  by  a  splendid  band  of  music.  A  death 
like  silence  now  perVaded  every  ship,  and  with  deep  anxiety, 
and  almost  breathiess  expectation,  the  crowding  thousands 
rushed  upon  the  decks  to  witness  the  grand  and  imposing  scene, 
while  all  the  guns  on  the  battle  ships  were  in  readiness,  and 
the  port  fires  lighted,  under  cover  of  which  our  troops  were  to 
land.  There  was  quite  a  competition  among  the  troops,  each 
endeavoring  to  be  foremost  in  the  race,  and  vicing  with  each 
other  for  the  honor  of  being  first  to  set  his  foot  upon  the  hostile 
territory.  And  when  the  boats  reached  the  shallows  where  the 
men  could  wade,  large  numbers  of  them  leaped  into  the  water, 
and  holding  their  arms  and  accoutrements  above  the  briney 
element,  rushed  for  the  beach,  and  the  contest  was  fierce  to  see 
who  should  be  entitled  to  the  distinction  of  first  planting  the 
proud  standard  of  his  country  upon  the  shores  of  the  enemy. 
The  name  of  the  officer  who  accomplished  this  distinguished 
feat,  has  passed  from  myrmind,  although  I  distinctly  saw  him 
as  he  leaped  upon  the  beach,  unfurled  its  starry  folds,  and  planted 
the  staff  deep  in  the  sand.  And  then  the  long  and  deafening 
shouts  of  ten  thousand  deep-toned  voices  from  the  ships  and  the 
beach  might,  have  been  heard  shaking  both  land  and  sea,  and 
awakening  with  their  startling  echoes  the  dead  silence  of  the 
beleaguredcity. 

The  long  array  of  boats  soon  reached  the  shore,  and  quick 
as  thought  the  heavy  battalions  were  formed  in  battle  array, 
with  their  long  extending  lines  reaching  far  towards  the  city, 
with  flags  flying,  music  playing,  and  the  serried  ranks  of  glit 
tering  bayonets  flashing  their  light  upon  the  twilight  air.  I 
viewed  that  little  band  of  warriors,  and  contemplated  their  fine 
appearance  and  proud  military  bearing,  while  every  eye  flashed 
beams  of  joy,  and  every  lip  was  curled  with  a  smile  of  pleasure ; 
but  even  then,  bodings  of  evil  were  sounding  in  my  ear,  while 
I  thought  how  few  of  those  brave  and  gallant  fellows  would 
•ver  return  to  those  ships  they  had  just  left,  and  make  glad  a 


IN  MEXICO.  7 

mother's  heart,  when  the  clarion  of  war  should  be  hushed  in 
the  glad  notes  of  returning  peace. 

The  afternoon  had  been  spent  in  landing  one  division,  and 
the  gathering  darkness  of  night  was  now  upon  us,  consequently 
Patterson's  division  was  ordered  to  remain  on  board  their  ves 
sels  until  the  next  morning,  when  they  were  landed  in  the  same 
manner,  and  upon  the  same  boats,  that  Worth's  division  had 
been  on  the  evening  before. 

The  tall  summit  of  Orizabo,  with  its  coronet  of  snow,  set 
with  the  icy  gems  of  perpetual  winter,  can  only  be  seen  with 
any  distinctness  from  the  shipping  in  the  harbor,  about  the 
hour  of  sun-set  and  sun-rise  ;  during  the  balance  of  the  day, 
the  hazy  atmosphere  obscures  the  view  "and  renders  it  almost 
imperceptible.  Tiiis  will  not  be  a  matter  of  surprise,  when 
we  learn  that  this  mountain,  although  17,400  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea,  is  yet  more  than  100  miles  from  the  coast. 
Clavijero,  who  seems  to  be  a  historian  generally  relied  upon 
by  the  writers  of  the  present  day,  says  that  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  this  is  the  highest  point  of  land  in  Mexico;  but  in 
this  he  is  evidently  mistaken,  as  subsequent  and  more  accurate 
calculation  have  shown,  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  that 
Popocatepetl,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mexico  city,  is  decidedly  supe 
rior  in  point  of  elevation,  being  about  17,900  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea. 

It  was  ascertained  that  the  point  at  which  Scott's  army 
landed  upon  the  beach,  three  miles  below  the  city  of  Vera 
Cruz,  was  the  very  identical  spot  where  Hernando  Cortez 
landed  his  slender  force,  and  began  the  conquest  of  Mexico, 
more  than  three  centuries  ago.  And  after  laying  the  corner 
stone  of  the  Villa  rica  de  la  Vera  Cruz,  and  planting  upon  its 
walls  the  emblem  of  the  true  cross,  he  took  up  the  line  of 
march,  by  the  way  of  Orizabo,  for  the  rich  and  populous  city 
of  the  Aztec  empire.  The  population  of  the  city  of  Mexico, 
at  that  time,  must  have  been  immense,  as  one  of  the  Aztec 
chiefs  assured  Cortez  that  they  were  able  to  lose  twenty  thou 
sand  men  for  every  Spaniard  that  was  killed,  and  then  be  able 
to  conquer  him,  or  annihilate  his  army,  in  the  end. 

By  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  February,  the 
debarkation  of  all  our  troops  was  effected;  and  immediately  on 
reaching  the  coast,  the  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Alabama 
regiments,  composing  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade,  were  ordered 
to  move  towards  the  heights  that  bound  the  western  side  of  the 
city,  and  proceed  forthwith  to  occupy  the  sand-hills  in  that 
vicinity.  Here  they  met  a  large  body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
together  with  some  detachments  of  infantry,  and  after  gome 


8  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

severe  skirmishing,  in  which  some  fell  on  both  sides,  the  Mex 
icans  were  routed  and  driven,  with  loss,  from  their  position. 
It  was  here  that  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dickinson,  of  the  Palmetto 
regiment,  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  left  breast,  while  his 
hand  was  raised  in  directing  the  lire  of  his  men  towards  a 
particular  portion  of  the  enemy's  line.  Several  of  his  men 
were  also  wounded,  being  pierced  bv  the  large  escopet  balls, 
which  the  enemy  can  throw  with  great  effect  and  precision  to 
the  distance  of  half  a  mile.  Our  ordinary  muskets  would  not 
carry  a  ball  that  far,  with  the  certainty  of  doing  any  material 
execution;  so  that  we  were  exposed,  for  a  short  time,  to  a 
deadly  and  destructive  fire  from  their  lines,  while  they  were 
almost  beyond  the  teach  of  our  shot.  Thus  it  appears  that 
the  first  blood  that  was  shed  on  the  new  line,  or  the  line  of 
General  Scott's  operations,  flowed  from  the  veins  of  the  Pal 
metto  regiment;  and  the  crimson  current  was  not  staunched 
from  the  first  drop  that  was  spilled  beneath  the  walls  of  Vera 
Cruz,  till  the  Garitas  were  stormed,  and  our  victorious  army 
trod,  in  triumph,  the  treacherous  streets  of  the  Mexican  capital. 

We  were  completely  within  reach  of  the  heavier  guns  of  the 
city  asd  castle,  and  which  commenced  throwing  their  shot  and 
shells  among  our  ranks  as  soon  as  our  appearance  upon  the 
heights  gave  them  a  fuller  and  more  distinct  view  of  our  posi 
tion.  It  was  the  wish  of  General  Scott  to  draw  a  line  of  in 
vestment  completely  around  the  city,  describing  a  semi-circle, 
and  extending  from  beach  to  beach;  and  he  proceeded  imme 
diately  to  put  in  operation  the  plans  by  which  he  intended  to 
accomplish  this  object,  as  it  was  very  desirable  that  this  desi- 
deratim,  which  vouchsafed  so  many  advantages  to  the  besieging 
forces,  should  be  obtained  at  the  earliest  possible  date.  This 
line  of  military  posts  was  about  seven  miles  in  length,  and  was 
completed  on  the  third  day  after  our  arrival  ;  the  northern  ex 
tremity  of  which  reached  the  beach  above  the  city,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Antigua  river.  The  night  before  this  line  was 
closed,  it  was  said  that  fifteen  hundred  packed  mules,  loaded 
with  provisions  for  the  garrison,  entered  the  city  at  its  northern 
gate,  from  the  interior  of  the  tierra  calientes. 

From  all  we  could  learn  from  thje  most  reliable  sources,  it 
was  evident  to  our  minds  that  the  -rovision  supplies  of  both  the 
city  and  castle  were  extremely  short,  which  was  deemed  alto 
gether  favorable  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  a  siege.  The 
commander  of  the  garrison  had  probably  not  deemed  it  neces 
sary  to  lay  in  large  commissary  stores,  as  he  never  dreamed  of 
being  besieged  by  the  American  forces  in  such  a  climate  as 
that,  and  at  a  time,  too,  in  which  the  deadly  vomito  was  just 
1* 


IN  MEXICO.  9 

commencing  its  wasting  ravages,  and  the  resident  strangers, 
together  with  a  large  portion  of  the  citizens,  were  flying  irom 
the  scourge,  and  seeking  a  more  safe  and  healthy  home  in  the 
interior.  Although  they  depended,  no  doubt,  more  for  protec 
tion  upon  their  climate  than  their  arms,  yet  in  this  particular, 
atleast,  they  were  somewhat  disappointed;  and  in  this  instance, 
finally  proved  a  fatal  delusion  to  them,  and  in  two  weeks  placed 
their  city  and  castle  at  the  mercy  of  their  assailants. 

My  impression  is,  that  with  the  requisite  number  of  brave 
and  well  disciplined  troops,  who  would  have  stood  by  and 
manned  the  four  hundred  pieces  of  heavy  artillery  that  was 
mounted  upon  the  walls  of  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa, 
that  it  would  ever  have  proved  impregnable  to  any  naval  or  land 
force  that  could  have  been  brought  against  it.  The  walls  of 
the  fortress  are  built  of  coral  rock,  and  are  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  feet  thick,  and  perfectly  -bomb  proof  in  every  part;  and 
there  is  no  doubt  but  that  our  whole  naval  force  might  have 
been  throwing  shot  and  shells  against  the  walls  of  that  castle 
from  the  commencement  of  the  war  till  the  present  hour,  with 
out  having  effected  a  breach  in  the  works,  or  .done  any  material 
or  vital  injury  to  the  garrison.  The  tact  is,  it  could  sink  every 
ship  in  our  navy  in  forty-eight  hours,  if  they  were  placed  within 
range  of  its  guns.  Commodore  Connor,  and  other  distinguish 
ed  officers,  pronounced  it  impregnable ;  Commodore  Perry 
intimated  that,  it  could  be  taken,  but  he  never  seemed  altogether 
willing  to  try  it  with  his  ships.  It  is  considered,  and  I  think 
justly  so,  the  third  strongest  fortification  in  the  world,  that  of 
Gibraltar  and  Quebec  only,  being  superior  to  it.  It  was  by  the 
accidental  explosion  of  a  magazine  that  enabled  the  French  to 
take  it  in  1839;  and  General  Thompson,  in  his  work,  says 
that  any  ruture  assailant  may  not  expect  so  easy  a  victory,  if  it 
should  be  even  tolerably  defended. 

I  well  remember,  as  1  looked  out  from  the  shipping,  as  we 
lay  at  anchor  near  the  island  of  Sacrin'cios,  and  saw  the  national 
flag  of  Mexico  as  it  proudly  floated  from  the  tall  flag  staff  of 
the  castle,  that  I  involuntarily  exclaimed,  as  I  bent  iny  anxious 
gaze  upon  it,  "  how  many  valuable  lives  will  it  cost  to  pull 
down  that  proud  ensign,  and  place  the  stars  and  stripes  in  its 
stead!"  As  soon  as  the  landing  of  our  artillery  and  ordnance 
stores  could  be  effected,  we  commenced  preparing  for  the  erec 
tion  of  batteries  on  the  surrounding  heights,  from  which  we 
intended,  ere  long,  to  rain  an  iron  storm,  mingled  with  fire, 
upon  the  devoted  and  self-secure  inhabitants  of  the  ancient  city 
of  the  true  cross. 

It  was  with  incessant  labour  and  toil  that  the  heavier  pieces 


10 

were  carried  up  the  steep  and  precipitous  sand-hills  over  which 
it  was  necessary  to  pass,  in  order  to  reach  the  proper  elevation 
for  playing  upon  the  enemy's  works  to  advantage.  I  have  seen 
not  less  than  twenty  horses,  and  one  hundred  men,  labour  in 
cessantly,  and  without  a  moment's  intermission,  for  a  whole 
day  and  night,  in  getting  one  of  our  heaviest  pieces  into  battery. 
The  road  for  the  carriages  had  to  be  cut  through  the  dense 
chaparral,  and  in  many  instances  hills  were  cut  down,  and 
ravines  filled  up,  forming  a  route  for  our  heavy  siege  trains, 
which  had  before  been  considered  impassible  on  foot  by  the 
active  hunter  of  the  forest.  For  two  long  and  tedious  weeks 
this  work  was  going  on,  until  a  semi-circle  of  heavy  batteries 
were  drawn  entirely  round  the  beleaguered  city,  and  the  frown 
ing  magazines  of  death  slumbered  upon  every  hill-top,  and  the 
red  lava  of  destruction  was  ready  to  burst  from  a  hundred 
yawning  craters,  and  roll  the  angry  waves  of  a  fiery  deluge 
over  the  proud  city  that  quietly  slept  in  the  valley  beneath. 
And  the  reader  \vill  remember  that  all  this  heavy  work  was 
accomplished  by  our  troops  within  direct  range  of  the  guns  of 
the  city  and  castle,  which  continued  to  shower  their  shot  and 
shells  thick  among  us  by  day  and  night,  until  our  last  gun  was 
mounted,  and  our  own  batteries  ready  to  return  the  fire  which 
we  had  stood  so  long  from  theirs. 

When  one  of  our  men^  pierced  by  the  fatal  shot,  would  fall 
in  the  ditch,  another  would  be  present,  ready  and  willing  to 
seize  the  spade  which  had  just  dropped  from  the  cold  hands  of 
his  fallen  comrade,  and  carry  on  the  work  with  increased 
energy,  perhaps  soon  himself  to  share  the  fate  of  his  companion. 
At  length  the  heavy  task  is  done,  the  last  shovelful  of  sand  is 
thrown  up,  the  last  sand-bag  is  placed  upon  the  rampart,  and 
the  last  gun  mounted.  All  this  time  we  had  stood  their  fire 
with  unflinching  firmness,  without  returning  a  single  shot,  but 
now  we  are  ready  and  willing  to  exchange  iron  compliments 
with  our  city  friends,  which  we  did  not  fail  to  do,  and  (hat  with 
a  vengeance. 


CHAPTER  H. 

At  a  quarter-past,  four  o'clock,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d 
day  of  March,  all  things  being  in  readiness,  Worth's  batteries 
opened  upon  the  red  forte  near  the  Eastern  gate  of  the  city, 
waking  up  the  gunners  from  their  quiescent  repose,  and  making 
the  very  city  quake  to  its  deep  foundations.  The  Palmetto 


IN  MEXICO.  1 1 

regiment  had  been  detailed  to  assist  in  erecting  the  marine 
battery,  which  they  had  just  accomplished,  when  Worth  opened 
the  ball  for  the  evening,  and  received  a  response  from  the  whole 
line  of  the  enemy's  works,  which  set  the  heavens  in  a  hrlaze, 
and  shook  the  surrounding  hills. 

I  had  the  pleasure,  at  this  exciting  moment,  of  being  within 
less  than  five  hundred  yards  of  the  walls  of  the  city,  and  my 
position  being  quite  an  elevated  one,  afforded  me  a  distinct  and 
beautiful  view  of  the  two  contending  lines  of  batteries,  and 
brought  me  near  enough  to  the  forts  on  the  walls  to  enable  me 
to  see  the  Mexicans  touch  off  their  pieces,  and  I  could  distinctly 
hear  the  bombs  as  they  rolled  above  my  head,  and  passed  on  in 
their  wild  career  of  destruction.  I  must  confess  that  at  first  I 
felt  some  little  anxiety  about  the  fate  of  our  batteries,  as  it 
appeared  to  me  that  the  enemy  must  at  least  have  thrown  four 
shells  to  our  one ;  but  then  I  remembered  that  Worth  was 
there,  and  those  tried  and  veteran  heroes  who  stormed  the 
Bishop's  palace  at  Monterey;  and  with  such  men  as  these  to 
man  our  guns,  I  knew  all  must  be  right  in  the  end.  Although 
the  enemy's  works  were  stronger  than  ours,  and  they  could 
number  more  men  and  guns,  yet  our  artillery  corps  was  by  no 
means  idle,  or  their  efforts  without  effect,  for  I  could  occasion 
ally  see  them  wrapped  in  sheets  of  fire  and  clouds  of  smoke, 
and  sending  their  death  shots  thick  and  fast  against  the  trembling 
walls  of  the  city.  And  well  and  faithfully  did  our  engineers  do 
their  work,  planting  every  shot  at  or  near  the  point  designated, 
which  told  with  fearful  effect  upon  the  city  generally,  but  more 
particularly  upon  the  fortified  points  upon  the  beach,  and  along 
the  outer  wall  on  the  south  side  of  the  city, 

At  length  night  sat  in,  and  darkness  brooded  over  the  tented 
field,  and  wrapped  in  one  general  gloom  the  busy  thousands 
that  trod  the  bloody  streets  within  the  walls,  or  laboured  in  the 
ditches  without.  But  the  drowsy  ear  of  night  was  vexed,  and 
the  sable  cheek  ot  darkness  was  made  to  blush,  by  the  inces 
sant  discha1  ges  of  cannon  and  mortars,  and  the  crash  of  falling 
shot  and  the  bursting  of  bombs,  and  the  lurid  glare  that,  flashed 
along  our  lines  and  lit  up  the  surrounding  scene  with  a  blaze  of 
living  light.  Nor  were  the  enemy's  works  by  any  means  idle, 
but  f  lithful  to  their  Charge,  they  showed  themselves  worthy  of 
their  country's  confidence,  and  hurled  back  the  iron  curses  of 
death  with  a  spirit  that  told  that  they  were  defending  the  graves 
of  their  fathers,  their  altars  and  their  fires. 

A  view  of  the  contending  batteries  from  the  surrounding 
heights  at  night,  was  peculiarly  grand  and  sublime ;  to  see  the 
fire-tailed  bombs  passing  each  other  from  the  opposite  works, 


12 

followed  by  trains  of  light  from  the  burning  fuise,  describing  a 
semi-circle,  and  then  exploding  with  a  thundering  crash  amid 
the  falling  timbers  of  the  city,  while  the  wails  of  the  wounded 
and  dying,  together  with  the  shrieks  of  women  and  children, 
rising  high  above  the  general  din  of  deadly  strife,  was  enough 
to  appal  the  stoutest  heart,  and  cause  even  the  war-worn 
soldier,  with  his  seared  feelings,  and  blunted  sensibilities,  to 
sigh  for  the  enjoyments  of  peace  amid  the  quiet  circle  of  home 
and  friends.  During  the  whole  of  that  long  and  eventful  night, 
the  tired  soldier  never  left  his  gun  nor  ceased  his  labour  for  a 
moment;  and  the  vigilant  eye  of  the  anxious  thousands  that 
crowded  the  surrounding  heights,  never  slept,  but  the  dawning 
of  the  morrow's  light  found  both  the  gunner  and  the  watcher 
alike  at  their  posts. 

The  city  of  Vera  Cruz  is  a  regularly  walled  town,  with  para 
pets,  embrasures,  ond  loop-holes  for  musketry,  the  wall  enclos 
ing  three  sides,  while  the  fourth  is  bounded  by  the  Gulf.  It  is 
entered  by  three  gates,  situated  about  mid-way  of  each  parallel 
line  of  the  wall,  which  is  also  protected  by  fortifications,  and 
watched  by  sentinals;  the  side  which  is  bounded  by  the  beach 
is  entered  at  the  Custom  House,  near  the  mole  or  wharf.  At 
each  of  the  four  corners  of  this  wall  is  erected  a  fort,  and  one 
at  each  intermediate  point  between;  each  of  the  seven  forts 
which  garnish  the  walls  of  this  city,  mounts  from  ten  to  twelve 
guns.  These  walls  are  built  mostly  of  stone,  interspersed  with 
brick  and  mortar,  and  a  kind  of  coral  rock,  and  are  from  ten  to 
fifteen  feet  high,  and  about  three  feet  thick,  and  made  with  loop 
holes  for  the  use  of  infantry. 

The  vast  level  plain  stretching  itself  out  before  the  city,  and 
reaching  from  the  walls  as  far  back  as  the  foot  of  the  sand 
hills,  is  perfectly  smooth,  without  a  bush,  shrub  or  stone,  and 
is  about  four  hundred  yards  in  extent.  And  had  our  artillery 
failed  to  bring  the  garrison  to  terms,  and  our  army  been  com 
pelled  to  take  the  city  by  storm,  they  would  have  been  exposed 
to  a  destructive  fire  from  no  less  than  seven  batteries  and  a 
thousand  muskets  at  the  loop  holes,  which  must  inevitably  have 
mowed  down  thousands  of  us  before  we  could  possibly  have 
reached  the  walls,  besides  large  numbers  which  must  have 
fallen  in  the  streets.  It-would  have  cost  our  army,  at  the  least 
calculation,  fifteen  hundred,  men,  to  have  taken  the  city  of  Vera 
Cruz  by  storm,  and  reduced  its  garrison  and  citizens  to  submis 
sion;  and  had  we  been  commanded  by  a  General  more  ambi 
tious  than  Scott,  but  less  prudent  and  skilful,  we  might  have 
been  led  against  those  walls,  and  in  the  face  of  the  Mexican 
cannon,  like  sheep  to  the  slaughter. 


IN  MEXICO.  13 

There  were  holes  dug,  and  deep  ditches  cut,  all  round  on  the 
outside  of  the  walls,  with  iron  and  wooden  spikes  drove  in  the 
bottom,  with  the  sharp  points  projecting  upwards,  together 
with  every  other  impediment  that  they  could  possibly  throw  in 
our  way,  to  impede  the  rapidity  of  our  advance,  and  prevent  us 
from  scaling  the  walls.  They  had  planted  heavy  pieces  of 
cannon  so  as  to  rake  the  principal  streets,  and  had  taken  up  the 
pavement  and  carried  the  large  stones  of  which  it  was  com- 
posed  to  the  roofs  of  the  houses,  in  order  to  hurl  them  down 
upon  the  Americans  after  they  had  entered  the  city.  The  Mex 
icans  had  certainly  never  dreamed  of  our  being  able  to  reduce 
their  works  by  any  other  means  than  by  storming  them,  as  they 
had  made  all  their  strongest  and  most  careful  preparations  with 
the  view  of  most  successfully  defending  themselves  against  that 
particular  mode  of  attack.  They  had  evidently  calculated  with 
too  much  certainty  upon  the  great  strength  and  efficiency  of 
their  castle,  and  was  thereby  led  into  an  error  that  cost,  them 
dearly.  They  seemed  to  think  that  under  its  powerful  protec 
tion,  the  city,  and  every  thing  in  it,  was  safe;  and  that  our 
light  batteries  must  be  swept  away  before  the  wasting  affects  of 
its  heavier  pieces,  like  grass  before  the  reaper,  and  that  our 
numerous  and  well  appointed  army,  invincible  as  they  were, 
must  melt  away  by  thousands,  and  vanish  before  the  superior 
prowess  of  the  Mexican  arms,  like  mists  before  the  morning  sun. 

Resident  foreigners,  and  Consuls  residing  in  the  city,  seem 
to  have  been  deceived  by  the  same  fatal  error,  for  when  the 
privilege  was  kindly  offered  to  them,  by  General  Scott,  of 
retiring  with  their  families  and  effects,  to  some  more  safe  posi 
tion,  they  positively  refused  the  proffered  kindness,  supposing 
themselves  in  no  danger  at  all,  and  quietly  remained  in  their 
quarters  within  the  walls  of  the  city.  The  women  and  children 
generally  of  the  city  were  offered  the  same  privilege,  but  they 
also  refused  to  avail  themselves  of  its  advantages,  and  chose  to 
remain  where  they  were ;  but  when  the  bombs  and  round  shot 
began  to  fall  pretty  thick  about  them,  shattering  their  dwellings, 
bursting  within  their  houses,  and  shaking  down  the  strong 
stone  walls  about  their  ears,  they  began  to  discover  their  dan 
ger,  while  their  situation  was  hourly  becoming  more  critical. 
They  then  sent,  an  express  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  begging 
permission  to  pass  out  of  the  city  and  flee  to  a  place  of  refuge 
where  their  lives  would  not  be  so  much  exposed,  but  it  was  not 
convenient  at  that  time  to  permit  them  to  do  so,  and  their  appa 
rent  reasonable  request  was  not  granted  ;  they  had  allowed 
the  golden  opportunity  to  pass,  and  now  they  were  compelled 
to  abide  the  consequences,  and  blame  no  person  but  themselves. 


14 

I  have  said  that  it  was  Worth's  batteries  that  opened  upon 
the  city  and  castle  on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d  of  March,  and 
of  course  the  artillery  companies  did  belong  to  Worth's  com 
mand,  and  no  doubt  he  was  present  in  person,  directing  the 
movements  of  the  troops  and  the  management  of  the  guns. 
But  the  different  batteries  on  the  south  west  side  of  the  city, 
and  those  which  opened  first  upon  the  enemy's  works,  were 
more  immediately  under  the  command  o^  Colonel  Bankhead, 
Chief  of  Artillery.  He  was  ready  to  open  a  fire  upon  the  city 
and  its  works  from  batteries  No.  1,  2  and  3,  as  early  as  two 
o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d,  but  he  did  not  receive 
orders  from  the  General-in-Chief  till  a  quarter-past  four,  when 
the  order  was  extended  and  promptly  obeyed.  Battery  No.  3, 
commanded  by  Captain  Vinton,  was  erected  between  the  city 
and  cemetery,  or  general  burying  ground,  and  but  a  few  paces 
in  front  of  the  latter,  so  that  the  shot  and  shells  from  the  ene 
my's  works  which  were  directed  against  this  battery,  would 
frequently  pass  beyond  it,  and  pierce  the  gloomy  vaults  of  the 
dead,  laying  bare  the  bones  of  those  that  had  held  peaceful 
possession  of  this  charnel-house  of  death  for  centuries  past. 
But  now  the  ravages  of  war,  as  if  not  content  with  scattering 
the  shafts  df  death  among  the  living,  had  actually  invaded  the 
voiceless  domains  of  the  tomb,  as  if  to  wreak  its  vengeance 
upon  the  bones  of  past  generations,  by  disturbing  the  quiet 
slumbers  of  decayed  mortality. 

I  passed  through  this  burying  ground  a  few  days  after  the 
surrender  of  the  city,  and  found  the  ground  perfectly  covered 
with  the  fragments  of  broken  coffins,  winding  sheets  decayed 
and  torn,  human  skulls  and  bones  of  every  description  ;  and 
even  the  little  chapel  in  the  centre  of  the  area,  where  the  last 
burial  ceremonies  were  performed,  was  perfectly  riddled  with 
cannon  shot.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Mexicans  bury 
their  dead  in  vaults  above  the  ground,  frequently  ranging  one 
above  above  another  for  four  or  five  deep  ;  and  when  the  bodies 
of  the  dead  have  remained  a  certain  number  of  years,  until  the 
process  of  decomposition  is  complete,  their  bones  are  removed 
from  the  vault  and  placed  in  a  charnel-house  erected  for  the 
purpose,  while  their  places  are  filled  with  new  corpses. 

It  was  in  the  ditch  in  front  of  this  place  that  the  brave  and 
accomplished  Captain  Vinton  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  ex 
pired  in  a  few  minutes.  I  saw  the  shell  that  struck  him  ;  it 
contained  more  than  two  hundred  musket  balls,  but  did  not 
explode.  I  afterwards  learned  that  it  was  preserved  and  sent 
home  to  his  family? 

The  command  of  Battery  No.  3  now  devolved  upon  Lieut. 


1ST  MEXICO.  15 

Vanvliet,  of  the  3d  Artillery,  who  proved  himself  a  brave  and 
skilful  officer,  and  conducted  himself  with  distinguished  gallantry 
during  the  whole  siege. 

The  fire  from  our  batteries  up  to  twelve  o'clock  on  the  23d, 
had  been  rather  moderate,  on  account  of  the  want  of  a  sufficient 
supply  of  shot  and  shells  ;  Colonel  Bankhead  supposed  that  his 
batteries  did  not  fire  more  than  one  shot  in  every  five  minutes. 
The  cause  of  this  was,  that  a  large  portion  of  our  ordnance 
stores  had  not  yet  been  landed  from  the  ships,  and  as  the  sea 
was  very  rough,  occasioned  by  the  blowing  of  a  violent  Norther, 
it  was  thought  dangerous  to  attempt  to  run  small  boats  from  the 
ships  to  the  beach  until  the  wind  had  abated.  On  the  night  of 
the  24th,  the  wind  had  fallen,  and  the  sea  had  become  suffi 
ciently  calm  for  the  boats  to  pass,  when  a  large  supply  of  shot 
and  shells  were  conveyed  to  the  trenches  under  cover  of  the 
night,  which  enabled  our  line  of  batteries  to  commence  active 
operations  early  on  the  next  morning. 

During  the  night  a  spirited  fire  was  kept  up  on  the  part  of 
our  works,  which  was  returned  with  no  small  degree  of  life 
and  energy  from  the  guns  of  the  city  and  castle.  At  daylight 
on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  the  frequency  of  our  shots  was 
increased  to  about  two  hundred  discharges  of  round  shot  and 
shells  per  hour,  which  was  kept  up  with  great  effect  upon  the 
works  about  the  city  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  reception  of  a  white  flag  caused  the  firing  to  cease  for  a 
few  hours.  But  it  was  soon  again  renewed  from  all  the  batte 
ries,  and  continued,  without  a  moment's  intermission,  through 
the  night,  and  until  about  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
26th,  when  all  the  batteries  ceased  firing,  in  obedience  to  an 
ord  ?r  direct  from  head  quarters,  which  had  been  issued  in  con 
sequence  of  an  express  from  the  city  requesting  a  parley  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the  terms  or  a  surrender. 

It  was  ascertained  during  this  day  that  almost  every  shot 
and  shell  from  our  guns  had  fallen  within  the  walls  of  the  city, 
burning  some  houses  and  knocking  down  the  roofs  and  walls 
of  others,  while  the  destruction  of  life  and  property  was  very 
great,  extending  even  to  women  and  children,  priests,  prelates 
and  friars,  nuns  in  their  cloistered  cells,  and  those  that  were 
assembled  at  mass  in  the  churches.  If  the  bombardment  had 
continued  two  days  longer,  there  would  scarcely  have  been  a 
building  in  the  city  that  would  have  escaped  the  effects  of  our 
shot  and  shells,  and  the  beautiful  city  of  the  true  cross,  where 
the  pious  fathers  of  other  centuries  had  met  and  worshiped, 
would  have  been  little  better  than  one  shapeless  heap  of  stone, 
brick  and  mortar;  one  undistinguished  mass  of  ruins.  Thou- 


16 

sands  of  women  and  children,  and  the  citizens  generally,  whose 
services  were  not  required  at  the  guns,  and  even  the  wounded, 
with  the  blood  still  unstanched,  would  assemble  in  .vast  multi 
tudes  upon  the  beach,  without  the  walls  of  the  city,  at  its 
northern  extremity,  as  that  point  was  most  remote  from  the 
effects  of  our  batteries,  in  order  to  protect  themselves  from  the 
bursting  bombs,  and  the  falling  walls  of  the  houses,  which  had 
already  buried' scores  beneath  their  crumbling  ruins. 

The  principal  pieces  used  on  our  batteries  were  the  18  and 
24  pounder,  the  8-inch  howitzer,  and  the  10-inch  mortar;  but 
most  of  the  enemy's  pieces  were  much  heavier  than  ours,  more 
especially  those  upon  the  castle.  The  number  of  shot  and 
shells,  thrown  from  our  batteries  into  the  city  was  estimated  at 
something  more  than  three  thousand,  but  judging  from  the 
effects  produced,  I  should  be  disposed  to  think  that  five  thousand 
would  scarcely  cover  the  number.  The  bombardment  was 
opened  at  a  quarter-past  four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d 
of  M'arch,  and  closed  at  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  26lh, 
including  a  period  of  about  88  hours.  But  our  batteries  were 
not  in  active  operation  during  the  whole  of  this  time  ;  several 
temporary  suspensions  of  hostilities  were  granted  by  the 
General-in-Chief,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  time  for  parlies 
between  the  belligerent  parties,  and  a  portion  of  the  time  the 
briskness  of  our  fire  was  very  much  impeded  for  the  want  of  a 
sufficient  supply  of  shot  and  shells.  Up  to  the  time  when  the 
firing  was  ordered  to  cease,  not  more  than  one  half  of  our 
effective  pieces  had  been  brought  into  battery  ;  three  additional 
platforms  for  mortars  had  been  erected  by  the  engineers  during 
the  day  of  the  25th,  and  in  the  course  of  the  night  one  2.4-pounder, 
two  8-inch  howitzers,  and  fourteen  mortars,  were  being  con 
veyed  to  the  batteries;  but  the  firing  had  ceased  before  they 
reached  their  proper  point  of  destination,  and  they  were  accord 
ingly  ordered  back  to  the  depot. 


CHAPTER  III. 

During  the  investment  of  Vera  Cruz,  it  was  reported  to 
General  Scott,  that  a  large  cavalry  and  infantry  force  of  the 
enemy  was  assembling  in  the  direction  of  the  Madellen  river, 
and  were  fortifying  themselves  at  the  bridge  of  the  Morena. 
He  immediately  ordered  Colonel  Harney  to  take  Captain 
Thornton's  squadron  of  dragoons,  under  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  Major  Sumner,  and  fifty  dismounted  men,  under  Capt. 


IN  MEXICO.  17 

Ker,  and  see  if  he  could  not  bring  him  a  good  account  of  the 
enemy's  forces  in  the  course  of  the  day.  Colonel  Harney,  in 
approaching  the  bridge,  found  that  it  was  fortified,  and  defended 
by  about  two  thousand  men,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery. 
When  within  about  two  handred  yards  of  the  bridge,  our  ad 
vance  guard  was  fired  upon,  from  the  enemy's  lines,  and  one 
corporal  killed  and  several  privates  severely  wounded. 

Finding  the  bridge  rather  more  strongly  fortified  than  he 
anticipated,  and  defended  with  cannon,  Colonel  Harney  thought 
it  expedient  to  tall  back  to  a  safe  position,  and  send  to  our  lines 
fora  few  pieces  of  artillery,  by  the  assistance  of  which  he  felt 
confident  that  he  would  be  able  to  route  the  enemy,  and  drive 
him  from  his  position  with  great  slaughter.  In  the  mean  time, 
Captain  Hardee,  hearing  of  the  expected  engagement,  had 
collected  a  company  of  about  fifty  men  near  the  beach,  and 
came  rushing  on  to  the  rescue,  and  arrived  hi  time  to  render 
efficient  service.  They,  were  also  joined  by  a  company  of  the 
first  Tennessee  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Cheatharn,  and  four  companies  of  the  second  Tennessee  regi 
ment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Haskell,  which  reinforcements 
augmented  the  force  of  Colonel  Harney  to  quite  a  respectable 
and  efficient  number. 

The  whole  operating  force  was  now  collected,  and  waiting 
in  anxious  expectation  for  the  coming  fight,  which  they  all 
looked  upon  as  the  first  fair  trial  of  their  mettle  which  they  had 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  since  their  arrival  on  the  hostile 
territory  ;  and  each  one  was  looking  for  ward  to  the  approaching 
combat  with  peculiar  feelings  of  pride  and  exultation.  Lieut. 
Judd,  of  the  3d  Artillery,  was  also  soon  upon  the  spot  with  his 
company  and  two  piecs-j  of  light  artillery,  who  was  ordered  to 
move  directly  down  the  road  leading  to  the  bridge.  As  soon  as 
he  arrived  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  works,  they  opened  an  inces 
sant  and  well-directed  fire  against  his  whole  line  ;  but  in  order 
to  divert  their  fire,  flankers  were  thrown  out,  and  a  brisk  fire 
was  opened  upon  the  right  and  left  wings  of  the  enemy's  lines. 
This  manoeuvre  in  some  degree  protected  Lieutenant  Judd 
while  he  was  bringing  his  pieces  to  bear  upon  the  fortifications 
on  the  bridge  ;  and  soon  he  was  down  upon  them  in  a  blaze  of 
fire,  and  with  five  or  six  well-directed  rounds,  succeeded  in 
creating  confusion  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  A  charge  was 
then  ordered  by  the  commands  of  Colonel  Haskell  and  Captains 
Cheatharn  and  Hardee,  which  was  executed  in  the  most  bril 
liant  and  successful  manner,  and  succeeded  in  driving  the 
Mexicans  from  the  bridge  in  great  disorder,  leaving  the  ground 
strewed  with  their  dead.  But  the  momentary  pause  made  by 


18  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

our  troops  at  the  breast  works,  gave  the  retreating  enemy  time 
to  rally,  and  almost  instantly  they  were  discovered  to  be  form 
ing  again  upon  the  edge  of  the  chapparrel  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river. 

Major  Sumner's  squadron  of  dragoons,  which  had  been  held 
in  reserve,  was  now  ordered  up,  and  in  one  of  the  most  gallant 
and  successful  charges  ever  made,  dashed  among  the  enemy, 
though  arrayed  in  fearful  odds,  and  with  blades  of  flashing  steel 
drove  them  in  wild  and  scattered  confusion  from  every  point, 
who  fled,  leaving  large  numbers  of  their  dead  and  wounded 
upon  this,  the  second  field  of  their  defeat.  The  pursuit  was 
continued  several  miles,  until  the  prevailing  darkness  of  the 
night  put  a  stop  to  th'e  victorious  career  of  our  troops.  Many 
were  overtaken  and  cut  off  in  the  flight,  and  not  less  than  fifty 
were  found  lying  dead  at  the  bridge,  and  scattered  along  the 
road,  besides  large  numbers  of  wounded  that  musihave  escaped 
in  the  chapparrel  under  cover  of  the  night.  Colonel  Harney,  in 
his  oflicial  report  of  the  fight,  says  that  "Lieutenants  Lowry 
and  Oakes,  with  only  three  men,  pursued  a  party  of  about  thirty 
lancers,  who  left,  the  main  track  and  turned  off  in  a  bye  road, 
and  all  but  five  were  either  sabred  or  dismounted.  Major 
Sumner  and  Lieutenant  Sibley,  at  the  head  of  the  first  set  of 
fours,  had  several  personal  encounters  vviih  the  enemy,  who 
were  in  every  instance  either  killed  or  dismounted. 

This  proves  what  has  often  been  said  of  the  superior  mus 
cular  power  and  moral  courage  of  our  troops  over  that  of  the 
Mexicans,  and  whenever  they  have  been  met  in  a  hand  to  hand 
fight,  it  has  always  been  their  lot  to  be  overcome  and  routed, 
with  almost  any  odds  of  number,  or  advantages  of  position  in 
their  favour.  Although  this  may  be  attributed  in  part  to  the 
inefficiency  of  the  lance  as  a  weapon  of  warfare,  which  cer 
tainly  never  can  be  brought  into  successful  contact  with  the 
sword  and  bayonet ;  I  believe  that  it  has  long  since  fallen  into 
disuse  among  most  of  the  European  nations.  The  lance  is 
only  considered  efficient  for  the  first  thrust  in  a  close  encounter, 
but  if  that  is  not  successful,  the  swordsman  has  every  advant 
age,  and  can  either  ki!l  or  disarm  his  adversary  at  pleasure. 
The  shaft  of  the  lance  is  too  long  to  be  used  to  advantage  after 
the  adversary  has  approached  beyond  a  certain  distance  ;  it  can 
also  easily  be  cut  off  below  the  iron  point  by  a  skilful  swords 
man.  The  lancers  frequently  carry  them  confined  to  the  stirrup 
or  horn  of  the  saddle  by  a  long  twine  or  leather  string,  and  by 
this  means  they  can  throw  or  pitch  them  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
feet,  according  to  the  length  of  the  string,  and  then  draw  them 
back  at  pleasure,  and  they  have  often  been  known  to  kill  a  man 


IN  MEXICO.  10 

at  that  distance ;  but  I  believe,  on  ordinary  occasions,  they  are 
seldom  thrown  out  of  the  hand. 

A  troop  of  Mexican  lancers,  mounted  on  their  fiery  and  gaily 
caparisoned  mustangs,  all  in  full  uniform  and  rapid  motion, 
presents  at  once  a  most  beautiful,  grand  and  martial  spectacle. 
To  see  them  with  their  burnished  lances  glittering  in  the  sun, 
and  their  dashing  red  streamers  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  and 
their  well-trained  horses  at  the  charge,  has  a  tendency  to  re 
mind  one  of  what  he  has  read  of  the  mailed  champions  of  the 
days  of  knight  errantry.  The  shaft  or  handle  of  the  lance  is 
about  six  feet  long,  with  a  steel  or  iron  point  about  one  foot  in 
length,  and  the  shape  is  almost  exactly  similar  to  that  of  a  pike 
on  the  end  of  a  flag  staff;  the  blade  has  a  Socket,  in  which  the 
shaft  is  inserted  and  coifined  with  rivets.  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  the  lance  or  Padre  Jarauta,  which  was  taken  by 
Major  Polk  at  the  battle  of  Segaultipan,  which  was  fought 
principally  by  the  Texas  Rangers  and  some  other  detachments 
tinder  the  command  of  General  Lane.  Jarauta  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  arm  during  the  skirmish,  but  was  able  to  effect 
his  escape,  which  he  did  on  foot,  as  his  horse,  saddle  and  lance, 
were  taken  on  the  field  and  brought  to  the  city  of  Mexico. 
His  lance  was  a  very  beautiful  article,  made  of  the  most  costly 
material,  and  was  ornamented  with  many  rich  and  rare  deco 
rations  ;  the  streamer  was  made  of  red  silk,  some  four  inches 
wide  and  about  eighteen  inches  long ;  the  blade  was  two-edged, 
.very  sharp,  and  mode  of  polished  steel. 

The  lancer  is  also  generally  armed  with  an  escopet,  which 
is  a  short  gun,  about  eighteen  inches  long,  and  carrying  an 
ounce  ball ;  this  he  carries  confined  to  the  stirrup  and  the  pom 
mel  of  the  saddle,  and  can  be  used  with  great  efject  at  the 
distance  of  half  a  mile.  I  do  not  believe  that  the  lancers,  as  a 
corps,  are  in  the  habit  of  carrying  swords  and  pistols,  although 
I  have  seen  them  with  both,  yet  I  do  not  believe  that  they  are 
considered  generally  as  a  part  of  their  equipage,  the  lance  and 
escopet.  being  considered  sufficient. 

General  Twiggs'  brigade  occupied  and  held  the  extreme 
northern  point  of  the  line  of  military  posts  which  had  been 
drawn  around  the  city,  and  which  terminated  at  the  village  of 
Vergara,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Antigua  river.  This  brigade- 
left  the  point  of  landing  below  the  city  on  the  morning  of  the 
llth  of  March;  the  regiment,  of  mounted  riflemen,  under  Col. 
Persifor  F.  Smith,  forming  the  advance.  But  after  passing  the 
position  of  the  first  brigade,  Major  Stunner's  command,  com 
posed  of  the  first  squadron  of  mounted  riflemen,  was  ordered 
forward,  with  instruction  to  act  as  advance  guard.  After  reach- 


20  SOOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

ing  a  point  some  distance  beyond  the  piquet  guard  of  the 
volunteer  division,  he  was  met,  and  his  advance  opposed,  by  a 
considerable  force  of  the  enemy's  light  troops,  and  after  some 
very  warm  and  spirited  skirmishing,  in  which  Major  Sumner 
and  his  whole  command  distinguished  themselves  for  noble 
bearing  and  cool  and  deliberate  courage,  drove  the  enemy,  with 
some  loss,  from  their  position,  while  our  troops  continued  their 
march  as  before.  On  reaching  the  position  of  Gen.  Pillow's 
brigade,  the  advancing  columns  were  halted,  for  the  purpose  of 
allowing  the  men  time  to  rest  themselves,  while  the  rear  of  the 
line  came  up.  During  this  short  halt,  which  was  within  range 
of  the  enemy's  heavier  pieces,  a  round  shot  from  one  of  the 
forts  on  the  walls  of  the  city  killed  Captain  Alburtis,  of  the  2d 
infantry,  and  one  private  belonging  to  the  mounted  rifles,  at  the 
same  time  taking  off  the  leg  of  one  private,  and  the  arm  of 
another,  all  of  which  was  done  by  the  same  ball. 

On  reaching  the  Orizaba  road,  a  considerable  number  of 
the  enemy's  horsemen  were  seen  on  the  left  of  our  advancing 
lines,  and  who  appeared,  from  their  rapid  manceuvreing,  to  be 
preparing  for  battle.  A  company  of  mounted  riflemen,  com 
manded  by  Captain  Sanderson,  was  immediately  detached  and 
sent  forward,  with  orders  to  attack  the  enemy  and  drive  them 
from  their  position.  And  being  supported  by  Captain  Simon- 
son's  company  of  the  same  regiment,  they  succeeded  most 
admirably  in  their  plan  of  attack,  killing  two  Captains,  besides 
a  considerable  number  of  lancers,  completely  routing  them  at 
every  point,  and  driving  them  beyond  the  surrounding  hills, 
and  then  returned  to  their  commands  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

By  a  series  of  most  brilliant  charges  and  successful  skirm 
ishing,  tl^e  detachments  which  had  been  hanging  about  and 
harrassing  our  lines,  were  now  completely  routed  and  driven 
from  the  surrounding  heights.  The  way  being  now  open,  and 
clear  of  all  further  opposition,  General  Twiggs  ordered  his 
lines  to  be  extended  as  far  towards  the  main  road  leading  to 
Jalapa  as  the  number  of  his  forces  would  permit,  and  there 
bivouacked  with  his  whole  force  until  the  morning  of  the  13th, 
when  he  again  took  up  the  line  of  march  toward  the  beach; 
Major  Sumner's  command  still  composing  the  pioneer  guard. 
The  head  of  the  column  reached  the  beach  at  the  village  of 
Vergara,  about  two  miles  above  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  at  the 
hour  of  12  o'clock,  M,;  which  position  it  held  in  spite  of  the 
bloody  hordes  of  lancers  that  were  constantly  hanging  upon  its 
rear,  until  the  final  surrender  on  the  28th,  which  imposing  cer 
emony  took  place  in  full  view  of  their  lines. 

I  have  no  reliable  information  now  at  hand  that  would  justify 


IN  MEXICO.  21 

me  in  attempting  to  give  the  exact  number  of  killed,  wounded 
and  missing,  either  on  our  side,  or  that  of  the  enemy,  during 
the  siege ;  perhaps  less  than  one  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded 
would  cover  our  loss  from  the  time  of  our  landing  up  to  the 
surrender.  The  loss  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  must  have  been 
infinitely  greater,  as  they  were  more  exposed,  and  fought  under 
greater  disadvantages,  being  crowded  together  in  dense  masses 
where  almost  every  one  of  our  shot  was  sure  to  do  some  exe 
cution.  If  I  were  to  judge  from  the  injury  the  city  sustained 
from  the  effects  of  the  siege,  and  aware,  as  I  am,  of  the  very 
dense  population  which  were  crowded  within  its  walls  during 
the  time  ot  the  whole  bombardment,  I  should  say  that  one 
thousand  would  not  more  than  cover  the  extent  of  their  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded. 

The  terms  of  the  capitulation  being  agreed  upon  by  the 
Commissioners  appointed  for  that  purpose  upon  both  sides,  our 
whole  army  was  marched  out  upon  the  plain  before  the  city,  to 
witness  the  formal  surrender  of  the  garrison.  The  morning 
rose  bright  and  beautiful,  not  a  cloud  hung  upon  the  horizon's 
verge,  or  ladened  the  dewy-wings  of  the  new-born  day;  nor  a 
passing  vapor  to  dim  the  mild  beams  of  a  tropical  sun.  Joy 
beamed  in  every  countenance,  and  a  smile  of  satisfaction  curled 
the  mustached  lip  of  the  war-worn  soldier,  as  he  looked  out 
upon  the  rich  trophies  of  victory;  the  hard-earned  fruits  of 
incessant  labour,  danger  and  toil.  The  siege  of  Vera  Cruz 
had  ended  ;  the  last  hostile  gun  had  been  fired  from  its  cantoned 
walls  ;  and  its  waning  thunders  had  died  away  in  the  distance, 
while  the  dense  clouds  of  smoke  which  had  so  long  hung  in 
gathering  darkness  over  the  devoted  and  ill-fated  city,  had  now 
rolled  away  upon  the  distant  mountain  tops.  The  noisy  engines 
of  death  had  finished  their  bloody  work  ;  the  red  lava  of  destruc 
tion  is  no  longer  belched  forth  from  their  burning  bowels  ;  their 
hot  bolts  of  vengeance  are  laid  aside,  and  like  the  lion  exhaust 
ed  in  the  chase,  they  now  slumber  in  quiet  repose  upon  the 
shattered  and  blackened  walls.  And  never  was  quiet  more 
welcome,  or  rest  more  sweet  and  refreshing;  for  sixteen 
sleepless  nights  and  perilous  days  had  the  tired  and  war-worn 
soldier  been  at  his  post,  either  labouring  in  the  trenches,  work 
ing  his  gun,  or  watching  and  fighting  the  skirmishers  that  were 
constantly  hanging  upon  and  harrassing  our  rear. 

At  about  11  o'clock,  on  Sunday,  the  28th  day  of  March,  the 
whole  Mexican  force,  including  the  garrison  of  both  the  city 
and  castle,  and  numbering  in  all  about  7,000  men,  marched  out 
in  order  at  the  south  gate  of  the  city,  and  surrendered  them 
selves  prisoners  of  war,  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  American 


22 


army,  and  after  delivering  up  their  arms,  were  permitted  to 
retire  peaceably,  and  without  further  molestation,  to  their 
homes,  on  their  parol  of  honor,  not  to  take  up  arms  again  during 
the  present  war,  unless  regularly  exchanged  as  prisoners. 
The  whole  of  the  artillery  of  the  city  and  castle,  amounting  to 
near  five  hundred  pieces,  was  surrendered  at  discretion,  to 
gether  with  about  seven  thousand  stands  of  small  arms,  such  as 
carbines,  muskets,  escopets,  &c.,  with  a  very  large  amount  of 
ammunition  and  ordnance  stores. 

I  can  never  forget  the  feelings  of  national  pride  and  exulta 
tion  that  seized  and  agitated  my  anxious  bosom,  and  in  which 
the  whole  army  seemed  to  participate,  as  it  flashed  like  light 
ning  along  the  crowded  ranks,  and  manifested  itself  in  half- 
suppressed  murmurs  of  applause,  when  I  saw  the  stars  and 
stripes,  that  proud  banner  that  had  waved  over  half  the  world, 
and  swept  old  ocean's  home,  run  up  upon  the  flag-staff  of  the 
impregnable  castle,  while  it  was  saluted  by  twenty-eight  rounds 
from  the  very  guns,  which,  but  a  few  days  before,  had  been 
been  scattering  their  death-shots  thick  and  wide  amongst  out 
ranks.  I  have  heard  the  poets  celebrate  the  honor  of  our  flag 
in  their  wildest  and  most  exalted  strains  of  poetry ;  I  have 
heard  the  orator,  in  his  grandest  and  sublimes!  flights  of  fancy, 
attempt  to  depict  the  resplendent  glories  of  the,  almost  omnipo 
tent,  banner  of  the  stars  ;  but  never  have  I  felt  its  potency  in 
all  its  irresistible  and  controlling  influence,  until  I  saw  its 
bright  and  starlit  folds  flung  out  to  the  breeze  upon  that  proud 
eminence  where  the  untamed  eagles  of  Anahuac  had  fluttered 
for  centuries  with  free  and  unfettered  wing.  The  startling  fact 
was  pealed  out  in  thunder  tones  upon  the  ear  of  an  astonished 
world,  that  the  proud,  far-famed,  and  most  powerful  castle  of 
San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  whose  stately  walls  and  towering  ramparts 
had  been  pronounced  utterly  impregnable  to  any  force  by  some 
of  the  first  officers  of  the  arrny  and  navy,  was  now  in  posses 
sion  of  General  Scott  and  his  invincible  troops,  while  its 
granite  bound  streets  were  trod  in  triumph  by  the  restless  feet 
of  "the  barbarians  of  the  north." 

The  two  forts  upon  the  beach,  Santiago  and  Conception, 
were  surrendered  in  the  same  way,  by  pulling  down  the  tri- 
colored  flag  of  Castile,  and  running  up  the  stars  and  stripes  in 
its  stead,  and  which  was  soon  enveloped  in  clouds  of  smoke 
which  rose  from  the  salute  of  the  guns  below,  as  twenty-eight 
rounds  were  fired  from  the  captured  pieces  of  each  fort.  I 
thought  I  never  had  seen  General  Scott  look  so  well  as  he  did 
that.morning,  as  he  sat  in  his  saddle  a  head  and  shoulders  taller 
than  those  around  him,  his  fine  eye  flashing,  and  his  counte- 


IN  MEXICO.  2 

nance  lit  up  with  a  smile.  He  dashed  past  our  lines  on  his  fine 
bay  charger,  accompanied  by  General  Worth  and  his  staff,  aud 
hastened  to  take  his  position  at  the  head  of  the  columns,  and 
near  where  the  Mexican  lines  were  to  be  formed.  T  noticed 
that  his  horse  would  paw  the  ground  and  champ  the  bit,  when 
the  booming  of  the  cannon  would  reach  his  ear,  as  if  impatient 
to  bear  his  gallant  rider  to  the  battle. 

The  Mexican  army  manifested  a  good  deal  of  patriotic  indig 
nation  and  wounded  pride,  in  the  surrender  of  their  ^irms  ;  they 
were  required  to  march  out  from  the  city  and  stack  their  arms 
in  the  presence  of  the  American  army,  in  doing  which,  some 
of  them  \vould  hurl  them  against  the  ground  as  though  they 
would  break  them  in  pieces,  while  others-would  pull  off  their 
hats  and  dash  them  down,  stamping  them  under  their  feet  with 
muttered  curses  of  indignation,  while  others,  turning  to  take  a 
last  farewell  of  their  ancient  and  beautiful  city  as  it  was  now 
fading  in  the  distance,  would  rend  the  air  with  the  most  pitious 
howls  and  lamentations.  Mothers  were  seen  with  their  child- 
ren  in  their  arms,  hurrying  to  and  fro  through  the  ranks,  car 
rying  in  their  hands  their  most  valuable  articles  of  furniture, 
as  though  they  expected  that  every  thing  they  left  behind  them, 
even  their  homes  and  firesides,  and  family  altars,  would  be 
swept  away  before  the  desolating  march  of  the  merciless  in 
vader.  Children  were  seen  hanging  to  the  skirts  of  their 
fathers,  loaded  with  toys  and  play-things  ;  some  with  chickens 
under  their  arms,  other  leading  and  coaxing  along  some  favor 
ite  dog,  which  perchance  had  been  the  pet  of  the  family. 
Cages  of  parrots  and  canary  birds,  rattles  and  ribbons,  violins 
and  guitars,  together  with  all  the  paraphernalia  of  a  Mexican 
household,  all  mingling  in  splendid  confusion  with  the  life 
likeness  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  the  figure  of  our  Saviour  upon 
the  cross ;  while  towering  high  above  all,  in>silent  grandeur 
and  majesty,  was  seen  the  worshipped  and  venerated  house 
hold  god,  the  Santa  Cruz  (holy  cross,)  the  end,  the  object  and 
the  controlling  agency  of  Nuestra  Santa  Fe,  (our  holy  faith.) 

It  appears  that  General  Morales,  who  was  then  acting  as 
governor  of  Vera  Cruz,  was  justly  entitled  to  the  honor,  emolu 
ments  and  responsibilities  of  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the 
forces  composing  the  garrison  of  the  city  and  castle  ;  but  he 
saw  proper,  from  some  cause  or  other,  to  dodge  this  onerous 
responsibility  himself,  and  invest  General  Landero  with  the 
chief  command,  which  will  be  further  shown  by  the  corres 
pondence  between  himself  and  General  Scott  during  the  siege, 
and  pending  the  discussion  of  the  articles  of  capitulation. 
General  Scott,  in  his  official  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 


24 

under  date  of  the  21st  of  March,  uses  the  following  language: 
"1  concur  with  the  engineers  that  the  best  positions  lor  shelling 
and  battering  the  castle  are  outside  of  Vera  Cruz.  Neverthe 
less,  the  possession  of  the  city  would  enable  us  to  take  those 
positions,  (should  the  necessary  mortars  and  guns  ever  arrive,) 
without  the  molestation  of  a  flank  fire,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
reduce  the  line  of  investment,  now  about  six  miles,  to  less  than 
three.  This  would  be  an  immense  advantage  in  circulating 
supplies  from  either  flank  to  the  centre,  besides  rendering  the 
army,  by  compactness,  four  times  stronger  against  attacks  from 
without  or  within." 

It  was  considered,  for  some  time,  a  question  worthy  of  debate, 
whether  the  city  would  be  any  decided  advantage  to  us  without 
the  possession  of  the  castle  also ;  and  it  was  said  that  the  city 
was  offered  to  General  Scott,  immediately  after  his  arrival  be 
fore  it,  but  that  he  refused  to  receive  its  surrender  without  that 
of  the  castle  also.  It  was  said  that  General  Morales  boast- 
ingly  remarked  that  he  could  give  General  Scott  the  city  of 
Vera  Cruz  and  then  knock  it  down  over  his  head  in  twenty- 
four  hours  after  he  had  entered  it ;  and  1  have  no  doubt  but  that 
he  would  have  been  able  to  have  made  his  promise  good.  It 
was  even  a  matter  upon  which  the  engineers  were  not  agreed, 
whether  the  walls  and  buildings  of  the  city,  were  it  in  our  pos 
session,  would  afford  our  troops  any  essential  advantage  in 
bombarding  and  reducing  the  castle.  So  that  the  advantages 
which  General  Scott  notices  in  his  report,  are  about  the  only 
ones  of  consequence  which  would  have  resulted  to  the  besieg 
ing  army,  from  the  reduction  of  the  city  alone,  viz  ;  that  of 
reducing  our  line  of  investment  to  one  half  its  present  extent, 
and  rendering  it  doubly  strong  by  concentrating  its  resources, 
and  cutting  off  the  advantages  then  possessed  by  the  enemy,  of 
annoying  us  by  j^  flank  fire.  My  impression  is,  that  the. most 
effectual  plan  for  annihilating  our  army  in  the  shortest  possible 
time,  would  have  been  to  have  marched  it  within  the  walls  of 
the  city,  and  then  have  undertook,  from  its  walls  and  buildings, 
to  have  battered  down  the  castle,  or  knocked  the  garrison  into 
terms.  Very  few  ot  our  men  would  have  been  left  to  tell  the 
tale  of  the  sad  experiment. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

In  order  to  throw  as  much  light  as  possible  upon  the  hostile 
operations  before  the  city,  and  the  general  conduct  of  the  siege 


IN  MEXICO.  25 

and  final  surrender  of  the  garrison,  it  might  not  be  improper  to 
give,  somewhat  in  detail,  the  summon  to  surrender,  and  the 
correspondence  consequent  thereon,  together  \vith  some  short 
despatches  from  the  different  Consuls  of  other  nations,  residing 
in  Vera  Cruz,  and  lastly,  the  articles  of  capitulation.  A  careful 
perusal  of  this  correspondence  cannot  fail  to  delight  the  general 
reader,  and  more  than  repay  him  for  his  trouble.  The  same 
amount  of  information  upon  that  particular  subject  in  so  brief 
and  condensed  a  form,  cannot  perhaps  be  acquired  from  any 
other  source.  And  besides  this,  it  contains  facts  that  can  be 
relied  upon,  substantiated  by  the  very  highest  authority,  bear 
ing  upon  it  the  seal  and  impress  of  official  dignity,  and  statistical 
veracit^,  which  none  can  for  a  moment  doubt  or  gainsay. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.  OF  AMERICA, 
Camp  Washington,  before  Vera  Cruz,  March  22, 1847. 

The  undersigned,  Major  General  Scott,  General-in-Chief  of 
the  Armies  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  addition  to  the 
close  blockade  of  the  coast  and  port  of  Vera  Cruz,  previously 
established  by  the  squadron  under  Commodore  Connor,  of  the 
navy  of  the  said  States,  having  now  fully  invested  the  said  city 
with  an  overwhelming  army,  so  as  to  render  it  impossible  that 
its  garrison  should  receive  from  without  succor  or  reinforce 
ments  of  any  kind;  and  having  caused  to  be  established  batte 
ries,  competent  to  the  speedy  reduction  of  the  said  city,  he,  the 
undersigned,  deems  it  due  to  the  courtesies  of  war,  in  like 
cases,  as  well  as  to  the  rights  of  humanity,  to  summon  his 
Excellency,  the  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
city  of  Vera  Cruz,  to  surrender  the  same  to  the  arms  of  the 
United  States  of  America  at  present  before  the  place.  The 
undersigned,  anxious  to  spare  the  beautiful  city  of  Vera  Cruz 
from  the  imminent  hazard  of  demolition — its  gallant  defenders 
from  a  useless  effusion  of  blood,  and  its  peaceful  inhabitants — 
women  and  children  inclusive — from  the  inevitable  horrors  of  a 
triumphant  assault,  addresses  this  summons  to  the  intelligence, 
the  gallantry,  and  patriotism,  no  less  than  to  the  humanity  of 
his  Excellency,  the  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
Vera  Cruz,  The  undersigned  is  not  accurately  informed 
whether  both  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan 
de  Ulloa  be  under  the  command  of  his  Excellency,  or  whether 
each  place  has  its  own  independent  commander ;  but  the  un 
dersigned,  moved  by  the  considerations  adverted  to  above,  may 
be  willing  to  stipulate  that,  if  the  city  should,  by  capitulations, 
be  garrisoned  by  a  part  of  his  troops,  no  missile  shall  be  fired 
from  within  the  city,  or  from  its  bastions  or  walls,  upon  the 
2 


26 

castle,  unless  the  castle  should  previously  fire  upon  the  city. 
The  undersigned  has  the  honor  to  tender  to  his  distinguished 
opponent,  his  Excellency,  the  Governor  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  assurance  of  the  high  respect  and 
consideration  of  the  undersigned.  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

The  undersigned,  Commanding  General  of  the  free  and 
sovereign  State  of  Vera  Cruz,  has  informed  himself  of  the 
contents  of  the  note  which  Major  General  Scott,  General-in- 
Chief  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  as  addressed  to  him 
under  date  of  to-day,  demanding  the  surrender  of  this  place, 
and  castle  of  Ulloa ;  and,  in  answer,  has  to  say,  that  the  above 
named  fortress,  as  well  as  this  place,  depend  on  his  authority  ; 
and  it  being  his  principal  duty,  in  order  to  prove  worthy  of  the 
confidence  placed  in  him  by  the  government  of  the  nation,  to 
defend  both  points  at  all  cost,  to  effect  which  he  counts  upon 
the  necessary  elements,  and  will  make  it  good  to  the  last; 
therefoie  his  Excellency  can  commence  his  operations  of  war 
in  the  manner  which  he  may  consider  most  advantageous.  The 
undersigned  has  the  honor  to  return  to  the  General-in-Chief  of 
the  forces  of  the  United  States  the  demonstrations  of  esteem  he 
may  be  pleased  to  honor  him  with. 

God  and  liberty!     Vera  Cruz,  March  22, 1847. 

JUAN  MORALES. 

To  Major  General  SCOTT,  General-in-Chief  of  the  forces  of  the 
United  States,  situated  in  sight  of  this  place. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 
Camp  Washington,  before  Vera  Cruz,  March  22,  1847. 

I  have  this  moment  received  your  note  of  this  date,  inquiring 
whether,  in  my  opinion,  it  may  not  be  a  necessary  measure  of 
expediency  to  stop  for  the  present  the  intercourse  heretofore 
allowed  between  the  neutral  vessels  of  war  off  this  coast  and 
the  city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz.  1  promptly  answer  in  the 
affirmative,  considering  that  both  places  are  now  blockaded  by 
our  squadron  under  your  command,  and  the  city  not  only  invested 
by  our  army,  but  actually  under  the  fire  of  our  land  batteries. 
The  intercourse — the  subject  of  your  note — cannot,  it  seems  to 
me,  however  neutral  in  ii,s  intended  character  on  the  part  of  the 
foreign  ships-of-war  present,  fail  to  give  the  places  in  question, 
under  our  fire,  much  moral  aid  and  comfort. 

With  high  respect,  &c.,  &c.,         WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
Com.  M.  C.  PERRY,  11.  S.  N., 

Commanding  Home  Squadron,  &c. 


IN  MEXICO.  27 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  MISSISSIPPI,  > 
Off  Sacrificios  Island,  March  22,  1847.      $ 

SIR:  The  city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz  being  now  closely 
besieged  and  blockaded  by  the  military  and  naval  forces  of  the 
United  States,  it  has  become  necessary  to  prevent  all  commu 
nication  from  outside ,  unless  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag  of 
truce.  I  am,  therefore,  constrained  to  inform  you  that  all  inter 
course  between  the  vessels  and  boats  under  your  command  and 
that  part  of  the  American  coast  encompassed  by  the  United 
States  forces,  must,  for  the  pTesent,  cease. 

With  great  respect,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  most  obedi 
ent  servant,  M.  C.  PERRY, 

Commanding  Home  Squadron. 
Com.  H.  S.  MATSON,  H.  B.  M.  sloop  Daring ;  Captain  MANUEL 

DE  LA  PUENTE,  Commanding  H.  C.  M.  Naval  Forces,  Gulf 

of  Mexico  ;  Captain  G.  DUBUT,  Commanding  French  Naval 

Forces,  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Correspondence  between  Major  General  Scott  and  the  Foreign 
Consuls  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  their  letters  to  the  late  Governor 
of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  consequent  letter  to  Major  General  Scott. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

The  undersigned,  Consuls  of  different  foreign  powers  near 
the  republic  of  Mexico,  moved  by  the  feeling  of  humanity  ex 
cited  in  their  hearts  by  the  frightful  results  of  the  bombardment 
of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  during  yesterday  and  the  day  before, 
have  the  honor  of  addressing,  collectively,  General  Scott, 
commander-in-Chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  States  of  the 
north,  to  pray  him  to  suspend  his  hostilities,  and  to  grant  a  rea 
sonable  truce,  sufficient  to  enable  their  respective  compatriots 
to  leave  the  place  with  their  women  and  children,  as  well  as 
the  Mexican  women  and  children.  The  request  of  the  under 
signed  appears  to  them,  too,  conformable  to  the  existing  ideas  of 
civilization,  and  they  have  too  high  an  opinion  of  the' principles 
and  sentiments  of  General  Scott,  not  to  be  fully  confident  of 
the  success  of  this  request.  They  pray  him  to  have  the  good 
ness  to  send  back  his  answer  to  the  parlementaire,  who  is  the 
bearer  of  this,  and  to  accept  the  assurance  of  their  respectful 
consideration. 

Vera  Cruz,  24th  March,  1847. 

T.  GIFFORD,  Consul  de  sa  Majeste  Britanique. 
A.  GLOUX,  Le  Consul  de  so  Majeste  le  Roi  des  Francais. 
FELIPE  G.  DE  ESCALANTE,  El  Consul  de  Espana. 
HENRI  D'OLERIE,  Consul  de  S.  M.  le  Roi  de  Prusse. 
A  true  translation  of  the  original  paper  for  the  Secretary  of 
War.  E.  P.  SCAMMON,  A.  A.  D.  C. 


HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,  ) 
Vera  Cruz,  March  29, 1847.     ] 

SIR  :  The  flag  of  the  United  States  of  America  floats  tri 
umphantly  over  the  walls  of  this  city  and  the  castle  of  San 
Juande  Ulloa.  Our  troops  have  garrisoned  both  since  10  o'clock. 
It  is  now  noon.  Brigadier  General  Worth  is  in  command  of 
the  two  places.  Articles  of  capitulation  were  signed  and 
exchanged  at  a  late  hour  night  before  last.  I  enclose  a  copy  of 
the  document.  I  have  heretofore  reported  the  principal  inci 
dents  of  the  siege  up  to  the  25th  instant.  Nothing  of  striking 
interest  occurred  until  early  in  the  morning  of  the  next  day, 
when  I  received  overtures  from  General  Landero,  on  whom 
General  Morales  had  devolved  the  principal  command.  A 
terrible  storm  of  wind  and  sand  made  it  difficult  to  communicate 
with  the  city,  and  impossible  to  refer  to  Commodore  Perry.  I 
was  obliged  to  entertain  the  proposition  alone,  or  to  continue 
the  fire  upon  a  place  that  had  shown  a  disposition  to  surrender; 
for  the  loss  of  a  day,  or  perhaps  several,  could  not  be  permitted. 
The  accompanying  papers  will  show  the  proceedings  and 
results.  Yesterday,  after  the  norther  had  abated,  and  the 
Commissioners,  appointed  by  me  early  on  the  morning  before, 
had  again  met  those  appointed  by  General  Landero,  Commo 
dore  Perry  sent  ashore  his  second  in  command,  Captain  Aulick, 
as  n  Commissioner  on  (he  part  of  the  navy.  Although  not 
included  in  my  specific  arrangement  made  with  the  Mexican 
commander,  I  did  not  hesitate,  with  proper  courtesy,  to  desire 
that  Captain  Aulick  might  be  duly  introduced,  and  allowed  to 
participate  in  the  discussions  and  acts  of  the  Commissioners 
who  had  been  reciprocally  accredited.  Hence,  the  preamble 
to  his  signature.  The  original  American  Commissioners  were, 
Brevet  Brigadier  General  Worth,  Brigadier  General  Pillow, 
and  Colonel  Totten.  Four  more  able  or  judicious  officers  could 
not  have  been  desired.  I  have  time  to  add  but  little  more. 
The  remaining  details  of  the  siege ;  the  able  co-operation  of 
the  United  States  squadron,  successively  under  the  command 
of  Commodore  Connor  and  Perry;  the  admirable  conduct  of 
the  whole  army — regulars  and  volunteers — I  should  be  happy 
to  dwell  upon  as  they  deserve  ;  but  the  steamer  Princeton,  with 
Commodore  Connor  oh  board,  is  under  way,  and  I  have  com 
menced  organizing  an  advance  into  the  interior.  This  may  be 
delayed  a  few  days,  waiting  the  arrival  of  additional  means  of 
transportation,  In  the  mean  time,  a  joint  operation,  by  land 
and  water,  will  be  made  upon  Alvarado.  No  lateral  expedi 
tion,  however,  shall  interfere  with  the  grand  movement  to 
wards  the  capital.  In  consideration  of  the  great  services  of 


IN  MEXICO.  29 

Colonel  Totten,  in  the  siege  that  has  just  'erminated  most 
successfully,  and  the  importance  of  his  present  at  Washington, 
as  the  head  of  the  engineer  bureau,  I  entrust  this  despatch  to 
his  personal  care,  and  beg  to  recommend  1  im  to  the  very 
favourable  consideration  of  the  department. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  Sir,  with  hifh  respect,  your 
most  obedient  servant,  WINFIE  J)  SCOTT- 

Hon.  W.  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.     ) 
Camp  Washington,  before  Vera  Cruz,  Ma.ch  25,  1847,  f 

The  undersigned,  Major  General  Scott,  &c.,  &c.,  had  the 
honor  to  receive  (last  night  at  a  late  hour.)  the  memorials  signed 
by  the  Consuls  of  Great  Britain,  France,  Spain  and  Prussia,  in 
the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  requesting  that  the  undersigned  would 
grant  a  truce,  sufficient  to  enable  the  Consuls  and  the  subjects 
of  those  powers,  together  with  the  Mexican  women  and  children, 
to  leave  the  city,  now  under  a  close  siege  and  blockade.  The 
undersigned  deeply  regrets  the  lateness  of  this  application,  for 
up  to  the  23d  instant,  the  communication  between  the  neutrals 
in  Vera  Cruz  and  the  neutral  ships-of-war  lyin^  off  Sacrificios, 
was  left  open  mainly  to  allow  those  neutrals  an  opportunity  to 
escape  from  the  horrors  of  the  impending  siege,  of  which  the 
undersigned  gave  to  the  Consuls  every  admonition  in  his  power. 
In  respect  to  a  truce,  it  must,  on  reflection,  b  3  evident  to  the 
Consuls,  that  the  undersigned  cannot  grant  one,  except  on  the 
application  of  the  Governor  and  Commander-iu-Chief  of  Vera 
Cruz,  accompanied  by  a  distinct  proposition  to  surrender.  In 
the  mean  time,  the  siege  will  go  on  with  increased  means  and 
vigor.  That  the  unavoidable  distresses  of  the  women  and 
children,  in  the  besieged  place,  had  deeply  engaged  the  sympa 
thies  of  the  undersigned,  before  one  shot  or  shell  had  been 
fired  by  him  in  that  direction,  he  begs  to  refer  to  the  accompa 
nying  copy  of  his  summons,  addressed  the  22 1  instant,  to  his 
Excellency,  the  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  Vera 
Cruz.  His  Excellency  chose  to  consider  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa,  as  well  as  Vera  Cruz,  to  be  i  icluded  in  that 
summons,  and  expressed  his  confidence  in  his  ability  to  make 
a  successful  defence  of  both.  The  undersigned  has  the  honor 
to  tender  to  the  Consuls  of  Great  Britain,  Frcnce,  Spain  and 
Prussia,  the  assurance  of  his  high  respect  and  consideration. 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

To  Messrs.  GIFFORD,  GLOUX,  ESCALANTE,  and  D'OLIERE,  &c., 
Vera  Cruz. 
2* 


I  have  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  your  Excellency  the  ex 
position  which  has  this  moment  been  made  to  me  by  the 
Senores  Cons  ils  of  England,  France,  SpaiA  and  Prussia,  in 
which  they  s<  licit  that  hostilities  may  be  suspended  while  the 
innocent  fami  lies  in  this  place,  who  are  suffering  the  ravages  of 
war,  be  enabied  to  leave  the  city,  which  solicitude  claims  my 
support;  and  considering  it  in  accordance  with  the  rights  of 
afflicted  humanity,  I  have  not  hesitated  to  invite  your  Excellency 
to  enter  into  an  honorable  accommodation  with  the  garrison, 
in  which  case  you  will  please  name  three  Commissioners,  who 
may  meet  at  some  intermediate  point,  to  treat  with  those  of  this 

?lace  upon  th-?  terms  of  the  accommodation.     With  this  motive, 
renew  to  yrur  Excellency  my  attentive  consideration. 
God  guard  your  Excellency,  &c.     On  account  of  the  sick 
ness  of  the  Commanding  General. 

JOSE  JUAN  DE  LANDERO. 
Major  General  SCOTT. 

Copy  for  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  P.  SCAMMON,  A.  A.  D.  C. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

The  undersigned,  Consuls  of  several  foreign  powers  near 
the  Mexican  Government,  have  the  honor  to  address  to  the 
Commanding  General  of  the  State  of  Vera  Cruz,  a  copy  of 
the  answer  which  they  have  received  from  General  Scott, 
Commander-m-Chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  States  of  the 
north,  to  the  request  that  they  have  made  for  a  truce,  which 
permits  their  respective  countrymen,  as  well  as  the  Mexican 
women  and  children,  to  go  out  of  the  place  of  Vera  Cruz. 
More  and  more  afflicted  by  the  disasters  which  this  place  has 
suffered  during  the  three  days  that  it  has  been  bombarded,  and 
desiring  fully  to  perform  the  duties  of  humanity  which  the 
missions  that  they  have  received  from  their  governments  and 
their  own  personal  feelings  impose,  they  beseech  the  Com 
manding  General  Morales,  to  present  to  General  Scott  a  demand 
so  reasonable  as  theirs. 

They  have  the  honor  to  renew  to  the  Commanding  General 
Morales  the  assurances  of  their  respectful  consideration. 

T.  GIFFORD,  Consul  de  sa  Majeste  Britannique. 

A.  GLOUX,  Le  Consul  de  Francais. 

FELIPE  G.  DE  ESCALANTE,  El  Consul  de  Espana. 

HENRI  D'OLIERE,  Le  Consul  de  S.  M.  de  Rio  de  Prusse. 

Translation  for  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War. 

E.  P.  SCAMMON,  A.  A.  D.  C. 


1'N  MEXICO.  31 

Credentials  of  Commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States. 

In  consideration  of  the  proposition  the  undersigned  has  re 
ceived  from  Senor  General  Landero,  the  actual  Commander  of 
the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  its  dependencies,  that  three  Com 
missioners  be  appointed  on  the  part  of  each  belligerent  to  treat 
of  the  surrender  of  the  said  city,  with  its  dependencies,  to  the 
besieging  armies  before  the  same — the  undersigned,  Major 
General  Scott,  General-in-Chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  has  appointed,  and  does  hereby  appoint, 
Generals  W.  J.  Worth  and  G.  J.  Pillow,  with  Colonel  John 
G.  Totten,  Chief  of  Engineers,  all  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  Commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  undersigned,  to  meet 
an  equal  number  of  Commissioners,  who  may  be  duly  appqinted 
on  the  part  of  the  Senor  General  Landero,  to  treat  of  the  sur 
render  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  its  dependencies,  to  the 
arms  of  the  said  States. 

Done  at  Camp  Washington,  the  head  quarters  of  the  army 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  this  twenty-sixth  day  of 
March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1847. 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 
Camp  Washington,  before  Vera  Cruz,  March  26, 1847. 

Outlines  of  instructions  to  the  Commissioners  appointed  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  commissioned  by  the  under 
signed  to  treat  with  such  persons  as  may  be  duly  authorized  on 
the  part  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  its  dependencies,  on  the 
subject  of  the  surrender  of  the  same  : 

1.  The  whole  garrison  or  garrisons  to  be  surrendered  to  the 
arms  of  the  United  States  as  prisoners  of  war. 

2.  The  garrisons  to  be  permitted  to  march  out  with  the 
honors  of  war,  and  to  ground  arms  to  such  force  as  may  be 
appointed  by  the  undersigned,  and  at  a  point  to  be  agreed  upon 
by  the  Commissioners. 

The  surrendered  places  to  be  immediately  garrisoned  by  the 
American  troops. 

4.  Mexican  officers  to  preserve  their  side-arms  and  private 
effects,  including  horses  and  horse  furniture,  and  to  be  allowed, 

(regular  and  irregular  officers,)  at  the  end  of  days  to 

retire  to  their  respective  homes  on  the  usual  parole,  writh  the 
exception  of  such  officers  as  the  two  parties  may  deem  neces 
sary  to  accompany  the  rank  and  file  to  the  United  States. 

5.  The  rank  and  file  of  regular  regiments,  corps  or  compa 
nies  to  remain  as  prisoners  of  war,  subject  to  be  sent  to  the 


32  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

United  States,  (with  such  Mexican  officers  as  may  be  needed 
with  the  men,)  and  to  be  clothed  and  subsisted  by  the  United 
States,  at  the  ultimate  cost  of  the  belligerent,  that  may  be 
agreed  upon  by  a  definitive  treaty  of  peace. 

6.  The  rank  and  file  of  the  irregular  portion  of  the  prisoners 

to  be  detained days,  and  subsisted  (if  necessary)  for  the 

time  by  the  United  States,  when  they  may  be  permitted  to  retire 
to  their  respective  homes,  their  officers  giving  the  usual  parole 
that  the  said  rank  and  file  shall  not  serve  again  until  duly  ex- 
changed. 

7.  All  the  material  of  war,  and  all  public  property  of  every 
description  found  in  the  city  and  its  dependencies,  to  belong  to 
the  United  States ;  but  the  armament  of  the  same,  not  injured 
or  Destroyed  in  the  further  prosecution  of  the  actual  war,  may 
be  considered  as  liable  to  be  restored  to  Mexico  by  a  definitive 
treaty  of  peace. 

8.  If  the  Mexican  Commissioners  decline,  from  the  want  of 
power  or  authority,  to  treat  of  the  surrender  of  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de   Ulloa,  the  American   Commissioners   will  urge  the 
former  to  ask  for  such  powers,  and  grant  any  necessary  delay 
to  that  end ;  but  if  such  power  be  not  asked  for,  or  be  not,  on 
application,  obtained,  the  American  Commissioners  may,  hesi 
tatingly,  consent  to  refer  the  subject  back  to  the  undersigned 
for  further  instructions  to  meet  that  state  of  things. 

WINFIELU  SCOTT. 

NOTE — Article  8  was  not,  of  course,  given  to  the  Mexican 
Commissioners. 

A  true  copy  of  the  original  paper. 

E.  P.  8CAMMON,  A.  A.  D.  C. 

General  Landercfs  letter,  notifying  the  appointment  of  Mexican 
Commissioners. 

In  virtue  of  your  Excellency's  having  accepted  the  proposi 
tion  of  accommodation  which  I  proposed  to  you  in  my  despatch 
of  to-day,  and  in  accordance  with  the  reply  I  have  just  received, 
I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  have  named,  on  my  part, 
the  Senoras  Colonels  D.  Jose  Gutierrez  Villanueva,  D.  Pedro 
Miguel  Herrera,  and  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  Engineers,  D. 
Manuel  Robles,  to  whom  I  have  entrusted  the  competent  power 
to  celebrate  said  accommodation,  having  the  honor  to  enclose 
you  a  copy  of  the  express  power. 

I  reiterate  to  your  Excellency  the  assurances  of  rny  high 
consideration. 

God  and  liberty  !     Vcra  Cruz,  March  26, 1847. 

JOSE  JUAN  DE  LANDERO. 


IN  MEXICO.  33 

Six  propositions  from  the  Mexican  Commissioners  to  the 
General-in-Chief. 

1st.  The  garrison  will  evacuate  the  place  within  a  time  to 
be  agreed  upon  between  the  belligerent  parties,  retiring  to  the 
city  of  Orizaba  or  Jalapa,  by  regular  day  marches,  according 
to  the  custom  of  armies  on  a  march. 

2d.  The  aforesaid  garrison  shall  march  out  with  all  the 
honors  of  war,  colors  displayed,  drums  beating,  stores  belong. 
ing  to  (he  corps  of  which  it  is  composed,  and  allowance  of  field 
pieces  corresponding  to  its  force,  baggage  and  munitions  of  war. 

3d.  The  Mexican  flag  shall  remain  displayed  on  the  bastion 
of  Santiago  until  the  retiring  Mexican  garrison  shall  be  out  of 
sight  of  the  city ;  and,  on  hauling  it  down,  it  shall  be  saluted 
with  twenty-one  guns  fired  from  the  same  bastion,  until  which 
time  the  forces  of  the  United  States  shall  not  enter  the  place. 

4th.  The  inhabitants  of  Vera  Cruz  shall  continue  in  the  free 
possession  of  their  moveable  and  immoveable  property,  in  the 
enjoyment  of  which  they  shall  never  be  disturbed,  as  well  as  in 
the  exercise  of  their  religious  faith. 

5th.  The  National  Guards  of  Vera  Cruz,  if  they  find  it 
convenient  to  retire  peaceably  to  their  homes,  not  to  be  mo 
lested  on  account  of  their  conduct  in  bearing  arms  in  defence  of 
the  place. 

6th.  The  undersigned  desire  to  know,  in  case  the  Senor 
General  Scott  should  have  to  continue  hostilities  on  account  of 
not  admitting  these  propositions,  if  he  will  permit  the  neutrals 
to  go  out  of  the  place,  as  well  as  the  women  and  children  be 
longing  to  the  Mexican  families. 

PEDRO  M.  HERRERA. 

JOSE  GUTIERREZ  DE  V1LLANUEVA. 

MANUEL  ROBLES. 

Translated  from  the  original  paper  for  the  Honorable  Secre 
tary  of  War. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.  OF  AMERICA, 
Camp  Washington,  before  Vera  Cruz,  March  27<  1847, 

The  undersigned,  Major  General  Scott,  General-in-Chief  of 
the  armies  of  the  United  States  of  America,  has  received  the 
report  of  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  him  yesterday,  to 
meet  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  his  Excellency,  General 
Landero,  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle 
of  San  Juan  de  UHoa.  In  making  that  report,  the  undersigned 
received,  informally,  from  his  Commissioners,  the  project  of  an 
arrangement  presented  to  them  by  the  Mexican  Commissioners, 
consisting  of  six  articles.  Without  reproducing  these  articles, 


in  extenso,  the  undersigned  will  simply  refer  to  them  by  their 
respective  numbers : 

Article  1.  Is  wholly  inadmissable.  The  garrisons  of  the 
places  in  question  can  only  be  allowed  to  march  out  or  to  eva 
cuate  them  as  prisoners  of  war  ;  but  the  undersigned  is  willing 
that  each  garrison,  without  distinction  between  regular  troops 

and  national  guards  or  militia,  may  retire  in  the  delay  of 

days  to  their  respective  homes,  the  officers  giving  for  them 
selves  and  their  respective  men,  the  usual  parole  of  honor  not 
again  to  serve  against  the  United  States  of  America  in  the 
present  war  until  duly  exchanged. 

Article  2.  The  garrisons  may  be  allowed  all  the  honors  of, 
war  usually  granted  to  gallant  troops  ;  but  to  surrender  their  ' 
side  arms  of  every  sort,  save  the  side  arms  of  the  officers. 

Article  3.  As  far  as  practicable  by  the  Commissioners  of  the 
two  armies,  this  may  be  arranged  to  satisfy  the  just  pride  of 
the  gallant  defenders  of  the  place  in  question. 

Article  4.  Is  readily  agreed  to,  and  may  be  solemnly  pro 
mised. 

Article  5.  This  is  substantially  met  in  the  above  remark 
under  Article  1. 

Article  6.  Not  admissible  in  any  case. 

Taking  the  foregoing  remarks,  and  the  instructions  of  the 
undersigned  to  his  Commissioners — which  instructions  were 
substantially  communicated  to  the  Mexican  Commissioners — 
as  the  basis  of  an  honorable  capitulation,  the  undersigned,  to 
spare  the  further  effusion  of  blood,  is  willing  to  refer  back  the 
whole  subject  to  the  same  Commissioners  of  the  two  parties — 
provided  that  the  said  Commissioners  meet  again  to-day  at  10 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  at  the  same  place  as  yesterday,  and  proceed 
without  delay  to  a  definite  conclusion  of  the  whole  subject. 
The  undersigned  will  wait  the  answer  of  his  Excellency,  Gen. 
Landero,  up  to  9  o'clock  this  day;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  re 
news  the  assurances  of  his  high  respect  rind  consideration. 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Office  of  the  Commanding  General  in  Vera  Cruz. 
MOST  EXCELLENT  SIR  :  As  long  as  the  Senior  General  Don 
Juan  Morales  remained  at  the  head  of  the  troops,  Ulloa  was 
subordinate  to  him,  but  this  Senor  General  having  separated 
himself,  he  delegated  to  me  the  command  of  this  place,  only 
reserving  to  himself,  Ulloa  independent,  in  which  garrison  I 
have  no  military  jurisdiction ;  therefore,  as  long  as  the  articles 
which  compose  the  capitulation  are  not  known  to  me,  I  cannot 


IN  MEXICO.  35 

address  that  Senor  Governor,  in  order  that  he  ma}  say  whether 
he  accepts  them  or  not.  This  much  I  have  to  say  to  your 
Excellency  in  answer  to  the  verbal  message  brought  to  me  by 
the  Adjutant  who  accompanies  the  Senor's  Commissioners,  in 
order  that  this  difficulty  should  place  no  obstacle  to  our 
arrangements;  and  I  again  protest  to  you  the  testimony  of  my 
consideration. 

God  and  liberty  !     Vera  Cruz,  March  27,  1847. 

JOSE  JUAN  LANDERO, 

To  the  Senor  General  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States  before 
this  place. 

Articles   of  Capitulation  of  the  city  of  Vera    Cruz  'and  the 
castle  of  San  Juan  de  Vlloa. 

PUENTE    DE    HORNOS,  > 

Without  the  walls  of  Vera  Cruz,  Saturday,  March  27, 1847.  $ 
Terms  of  Capitulation  agreed  upon  by  the  Commissioners,  viz: 

Generals  W.  J.  Worth  and  G.  J.  Pillow,  and  Colonel  J.  G. 
Totten,  Chief  Engineer,  on  the  part  of  Major  General  Scott, 
General-in-Chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States  ;  and 
Colonel  Jose  Gutierrez  de  Vilaneuva,  and  the  Lieutenant  Colo 
nel  of  Engineers,  Manuel  Robles,  and  Colonel  Pedro  de 
Herrera,  Commissioners  appointed  by  General  of  Brigade, 
Don  Jose  JuanLandero,  Commanding-in-Chief  Vera  Cruz,  the 
castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  and  their  dependencies,  for  the 
surrender  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States  of  said  forts,  with 
their  armaments,  munitions  of  war,  garrisons  and  arms. 

1.  The  whole  garrison,  or  garrisons,  to  be  surrendered  to  the 
arms  of  the  United  States  as  prisoners  of  war,  the  29th  instant, 
at  10  o'clock,   A.  M.;  the  garrisons  to  be  permitted  to  march 
out  with  all  the  honors  of  war,  and  to  lay  down  their  arms  to 
such  officers  as  may  be  appointed  by  the  General-in-Chief  of 
the  United  States  armies,  and  at  a  point  to  be  greed  upon  by 
the  Commissioners. 

2.  Mexican  officers  shall  preserve  their  side  arms  and  pri 
vate   effects,  including  horses  and  horse  furniture,   and  to  be 
allowed,  regular  and  irregular  officers,  as  also  the  rank  and 
file,  five  days  to  retire  to  their  respective  homes,  on  parole,  as 
hereinafter  prescribed. 

3.  Coincident  with  the  surrendeiv  ais  stipulated    in  article 
first,  the  Mexican  flags  of  the  various  forts  and  station^  shall 
be  struck,   saluted  by  their  own  batteries  ;  and  immediately 
thereafter  forts  Santiago  and  Conception  and  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa  occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States. 


36  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

4.  The  mnk  and  file  of  the  regular  portion  of  the  prisoners 
to  be  disposed  of  after  surrender  and  parole,  as  their  General- 
in-Chief  may  desire,  and  the  irregular  be  permitted  to  return  to 
their  homes.    The  officers,  in  respect  to  all  arms  and  descriptions 
of  force,  giving  the  usual  parole,  that  the  said  rank  and  file,  as 
well  as  themselves,  shall  not  serve  again  until  duly  exchanged. 

5.  All  the  material  ot  war,  and  all  public  property  of  every 
description  found  in  the  city,  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa, 
and  their  dependencies,  to  belong  to  the  Unite. I  States;  but 
the  armament  of  the  same  (not   injured  or  destroyed  in  the 
further  prosecution  of  the   actual  war)  may  be  considered  as 
liable  to  be  restored  to  Mexico  by  a  definite  treaty  of  peace. 

6.  The  sick  and  wounded  Mexicans  to  be  allowed  to  remain 
in  the  «gHy,  with  such  medical  officers  and  attendants,  and 
officers  of  the  army  as  may  be  necessary  for  their  care  and 
treatment. 

7.  Absolute  protection  is  solemnly  guarantied  to  persons  in 
the  city,  and  property,  and  it  is  clearly  understood  that  no  private 
building  or  property  is  to  be  taken  or  used  by  the  forces  of  the 
United  States  without  previous  arrangement  with  the  owners, 
and  for  a  fair  equivalent. 

8.  Absolute  freedom  of  religious  worship  and  ceremonies  is 
solemnly  guarantied. 

(Signed  in  duplicate.) 

W.  J.  WORTH,  Brigadier  General. 

GID.  J.  PILLOW,  Brigadier  General. 

JOS.  G.  TOTTEN,  Colonel  and  Chief  Engineer. 

JOSE  GUTIERREZ  DE  V1LLANEUVA. 

PEDRO  MANUEL  HERRERA. 

MANUEL  ROBLES. 

Captain  Aulick,  appointed  a  Commissioner  by  Commodore 
Perry,  on  behalf  of  the  navy,  (the  General-in-Chief  not  being 
able,  in  consequence  of  the  roughness  of  the  sea,  to  communi 
cate  with  the  navy  until  after  commissioners  had  been  ex 
changed,)  and  being  present  by  General  Scott's  invitation,  and 
concurring  in  the  result  and  approving  thereof,  hereto  affixes  his 
name  and  signature.  J.  H.  AULICK,  Captain  U.  S.  N. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.  OF  AMERICA,      ^ 
Camp  Washington,  before  Vera  Cruz,  March  27,  1847.  C 
Ayproved  and  Accepted.  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

M.  C.  PERRY, 
Commander-in-Chief  U.  S.N.  forces  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

VERA  CRUZ,  Marzo27,  1847. 
Approbad  y  acceptado.      JOSE  JUAN  DE  LAN DERO. 


IN  MEXICO.  37 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  correspondence  that  Gen 
eral  Scott  did,  at  an  advanced  stage  of  the  siege,  refuse  to 
permit  the  women  and  children  of  the  Mexican  families,  together 
with  the  neutrals  residing  in  the  ciiy,  to  pass  out  of  the  same  to 
a  place  of  safety.  But  when  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
are  taken  into  consideration,  and  impartially  investigated,  it 
will  be  obvious  at  once  that  no  blame  whatever  can  attach  to 
our  brave  and  humane  commander  for  the  part  which  he  acted, 
and  the  official  authority  which  a  proper  regard  for  the  success 
and  safety  of  the  American  arms,  and  the  usages  of  war,  com 
pelled  him  to  exercise  in  this  particular  case.  He  had,  pur 
posely,  and  with  a  view  to  offer  every  facility  for  the  escape  of 
the  neutrals  and  innocent  families,  left  the  communication  open 
between  the  city  and  the  neutral  ships  in  the  harbor,  for  several 
days  after  the  landing  of  the  army ;  but  reposing  implicit  con 
fidence  in  the  protection  which  the  guns  of  the  castle  and  the 
forts  of  the  city  would  secure  to  them,  they  remained  quietly, 
and  in  fancied  security,  within  their  homes,  and  actually  refused 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities  to  escape,  which  were 
so  kindly  extended  to  them.  But  after  they  became  aware  of 
the  danger  of  their  position,  and  their  dwellings  began  to  topple 
and  fall  around  them,  and  our  shot  and  shells  were  falling  and 
bursting  among  them,  they  then  became  alarmed  and  begged 
permission  to  pass  without  the  city  and  seek  a  place  of  safety; 
but  that  it  was  impossible  to  grant  their  request,  at  that  ad 
vanced  stage  of  the  siege,  without  yielding  many  advantages 
which  had  already  been  gained,  and  subjecting  the  besieging 
forces  to  great  inconvenience,  must  at  once  be  apparent  to  all. 
And  if  the  innocent  suffered  with  the  guilty,  from  the  ravages 
of  a  war  which  they  had  no  part  in  provoking,  and  which  they 
did  not  assist,  in  any  way,  in  prosecuting,  or  identified  them 
selves  with  either  party,  the  responsibility  is  with  them,  and  the 
fault  lies  at  their  own  door,  while  no  blame  whatever  can  attach 
to  General  Scott. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  violent  northers  which  occasionally  lash  the  waters  of 
the  Gulf  into  fury,  and  fill  the  air  with  clouds  of  sand,  were  a 
source  of  great  inconvenience  to  these  who  labored  in  the 
trenches  and  manned  the  batteries,  besides  the  immense  injury 
sustained  by  them  from  the  shipping  in  the  harbor.  Those 
gales  would  commence  blowing  most  generally  in  the  night, 


38 

and  would  continue  with  increasing  violence  for  twenty-four 
and  sometimes  for  forty-eight  hours,  and  even  rruch  longer  than 
that,  without  one  moment's  cessation.  The  ditches  that  would 
be  cleared  at  night,  and  made  ready  for  mounting  the  guns, 
,  were  frequently  found  next  morning  to  be  filled  with  sand,  so 
much  so,  that  it  was  often  impossible  to  discover  even  the 
slightest  traces  of  the  immense  labour  of  the  previous  day. 
The  air  would  be  frequently  so  filled  with  the  flying  particles 
of  sand,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  walk  about  with  any 
degree  of  satisfaction,  without  having  the  face  covered.  I  have 
seen  whole  lines  of  tents  blown  down  and  completely  covered 
up  by  the  hot  breath  of  the  Simoon  blast  that  swept  on  in  its 
resistless  fury,  leaving  not  a  vestige  behind  to  tell  of  the  ruin 
it  had  wrought.  Hills  were  swept  away,  and  valleys  filled  up, 
by  the  dark  and  angry  deluge  of  sand  that  rolled  on  before  the 
giant  strides  of  the  tempest ;  while  the  foam-capped  billows  ot 
the  Gulf,  on  whose  crested  wave  the  storm  king  sat  enthroned, 
goading  the  maddening  waters  to  fury,  broke  upon  the  sounding 
coast  with  a  violence  that  made  the  very  hills  tremble,  and 
shook  the  deep-seated  mountains  to  their  base. 

The  tall,  strong  built  ship,  that  had  outrode  the  fury  of  an 
hundred  storms,  and  dashed  the  salt  spray  from  her  bow  in 
every  ocean,  was  here  hurled,  by  the  violence  of  the  storrn,  from 
her  moorings,  and  dashed  to  atoms  upon  the  boiling  reef  or  the 
rocky  coast.  I  remember,  while  on  the  march  to  Alvarado, 
the  route  of  which  led  us  along  the  beach  for  more  than  sixty 
miles,  that  we  were  scarcely  ever  out  of  sight  of  a  wrecked 
vessel,  with  its  damaged  cargo  scattered  upon  the  beach,  which 
became  an  easy  prey  to  the  numerous  bandits  that  infest  that 
country,  and  find  their  hiding  places  in  the  caverns  ot  the  sur 
rounding  mountains.  These  northers  are  periodical,  and  rarely 
ever  prevail  but  at  two  regular  seasons  of  the  year,  viz :  about 
the  close  and  commencement  of  the  rainy  season,  and  are 
confined  pretty  much  to  the  Gulf  and  Pacific  coast.  From  the 
wrecks  of  government  vessels,  and,  the  loss  of  military  stores 
alone,  I  should  think  that  the  United  States  must  have  sustained 
a  loss  of  more  than  a  million  of  dollars,  besides  other  inciden 
tal  losses  of  the  same  nature,  and  occasioned  in  the  same  way. 

I  must  here  beg  the  reader's  pardon  for  a  small  digression 
from  the  thread  of  my  narrative,  while  I  indulge  in  a  few  friendly 
strictures  upon  a  work  recently  published,  and  purporting  to 
have  been  written  by  George  F.  Ruxton,  member  of  the  Royal 
Geographical  Society,  the  Ethnological  Society,  &c.,  and  is 
entitled,  "  Adventures  in  Mexico  and  the  Rocky  Mountains," 
from  the  press  of  Harper  and  Brothers,  New  York.  I  pur- 


IN  MEXICO.  39 

chased  the  book  at  the  city  of  Montgomery,  Alabama,  mainly 
for  the  purpose  of  relieving,  by  its  cursory  perusal,  the  dull 
monotony  of  hotels,  stage  coaches,  and  rail  cars,  a  long  train 
of  which  still  lay  between  me  and  my  boyhood's  home,  in  my 
native  State,  and  I  was  anxious  to  sieze  upon  every  opportunity, 
for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  anxieties  of  my  mind,  by  whil- 
ing  away  the  intervening  moments  which  still  divided  me  from 
home  and  friends,  as  pleasantly  as  I  could. 

I  have  since  read  this  work  with  much  care  and  attention, 
and  have  compared  some  of  the  statements  and  assertions 
therein  contained,  with  some  observations  of  my  own,  which  I 
had  taken  some  pains  to  make  during  a  sojourn  in  that  country 
of  some  eighteen  months.  The  writer  is  an  English  gentleman, 
as  he  himself  confesses,  and  which  will  abundantly  appear  from 
almost  every  line  of  his  work.  He  is  an  author  of  some  merit, 
especially  if  we  are  to  judge  from  the  size,  style,  and  matter  of 
his  work  ;  but  it  is  evidently  written  with  more  force  than  accu 
racy ;  with  a  greater  regard  to  the  rounding  of  the  periods,  than 
the  truth  of  history  ;  notwithstanding  he  evidently  possesses  a 
portion  of  general  information,  but  he  has  not  permitted  himself 
to  see  things  as  they  really  were.  It  is  very  apparent  that  he 
permitted  an  ill-founded  prejudice,  or  a  well-founded  jealousy,  to 
distort  his  vision,  bias  his  judgment,  and  pervert  the  truth  of 
history,  for  the  manifest  purpose  of  disparaging  and  underrating 
the  character  and  capacities  of  those  who  were  not  so  fortunate 
as  to  have  been  nurtured  and  brought  up  beneath  the  whole-some 
and  genial  skies  of  "  merrie  England." 

The  writer,  evidently  with  a  design,  leaves  his  readers  en 
tirely  in  the  dark  as  to  the  main  object  of  his  visit  to  Mexico 
and  the  Rocky  Mountains  ;  and  the  consequence  is,  that  all  who 
might  wish  to  know  any  thing  definite  about  this  important  sub 
ject,  which  might  have  a  tendency  to  throw  light  upon  the 
moving  cause  which  prompted  this  wayward  son  of  the  "fast 
anchored  Isle  "  to  break  the  leading  strings  of  parental  authority 
and  take  this  long  and  dangerous  voyage  to  a  foreign  and  pes 
tiferous  country,  infested  with  robbers  and  land  pirates,  must 
content  themselves  with  a  bold  but  fruitless  adventure  upon  the 
sea  of  uncertainty,  with  a  prospect  of  finally  being  wrecked  upon 
the  shoals  of  conjecture.  His  travels  could  not  have  been 
prompted  by  a  desire  to  inquire  into  the  condition  of  the  slave 
population  of  that  country,  with  the  view  of  ameliorating  their 
hard  and  hapless  lots,  and  extending  to  them  the  rights  and 
immunities  which  are  vouchsafed  to  the  free  and  independent 
citizens  of  that  country.  I  say  this  could  not  have  been  his 
object,  as  the  English  are  characterized  for  accomplishing  most 


40  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

things  that  they  undertake,  and  George  F.  Ruxton,  Esq.,  evi 
dently  left  this  highly  favoured  land  of  the  semi-barbarian, 
without  making  but  very  tew  advances  towards  the  accomplish 
ment  of  so  philanthropic  and  humane  an  object. 

But  to  begin  with  his  perversion  of  truth  ;  the  writer  of  this 
work  says  that  "The  city  of  Vera  Cruz  is  well  planned,  sur 
rounded  by  an  adobe  wall,  with  wide  streets,  crossing  each 
other  at  right  angles."  That  the  city  is  "well  planned,"  with 
wide  and  convenient  streets,  is  a  fact  which  very  few  persons 
would  pretend  to  dispute ;  but  that  the  walls  and  fortifications 
around  the  city  ale  constructed  entirely  of  adobe,  or  unburnt 
bricks,  I  think  very  many  would  dispute.  Jidobe  more  particu 
larly  means  sod,  or  tufts  of  earth  and  grass,  cut  from  the  plains 
or  prairies,  in  the  form  or  shape  of  bricks,  by  which  temporary 
walls  or  fortifications  are  frequently  constructed,  and  are  very 
little  more  durable  than  an  embankment  of  common  earth. 
Now,  any  one  who  has  visited  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  and 
pretends  to  know  any  thing  at  all  about  its  material  or  con 
struction,  even  if  he  was  a  very  casual  observer j  would  scarcely 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  strongly  fortified  walls  by  which 
it  is  surrounded  were  nothing  more  than  an  embankment  of 
common  earth,  or  unburnt  brick. 

On  page  25,  he  uses  the  following  language: — "Since  my 
visit  to  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  it  has  felt  the  force  of  American 
ire,  and  withstood  a  fierce  bombardment  for  several  days,  with 
what  object  it  is  impossible  to  divine,  since  &  couple  of  thousand 
men  might  have,  at  any  time,  taken  it  by  assault.  The  castle 
was  not  attacked,  and  was  included  in  the  capitulation,  without 
being  asked  for — cosa  de  Mexico.  The  town  was  attacked  by 
the  American  troops  under  General  Scott,  within  ten  months 
after  my  visit.  It  suffered  a  bombardment,  as  is  well  known, 
for  several  days,  an  unnecessary  act  of  cruelty,  in  my  opinion, 
since,  to  my  knowledge,  there  were  no  defences  around  the  city 
which  could  not  have  been  carried,  including  the  city  itself,  by  a 
couple  of  battalions  of  Missouri  volunteers.  1  certainly  left 
Vera  Cruz  under  the  impression  that  it  was  not  a  fortified  place, 
with  the  exception  of  the  paltry  wall  I  have  mentioned,  which, 
if  my  memory  serves  me,  was  not  even  loopholedfor  musketry." 
What  is  the  use  of  setting  down  for  the  purpose  of  combating 
seriously  such  palpable  falsehoods  and  unfounded  assertions  as 
these  ?  much  less  to  argue  a  question  with  one  who  has  a  suf 
ficiency  of  bare-faced  audacity  to  assert  that  "  the  city  of  Vera 
Cruz  is  not  a  fortified  place,"  and  that  its  strongest  defences 
could  have  been  carried  by  a  couple  of  battalions  of  Missouri 
volunteers,  when  General  Scott  found  it  necessary  to  employ 


IN  MEXICO.  41 

fourteen  thousand  men,  for  fifteen  days,  in  order  to  ensure  its 
reduction  and  consequent  capitulation. 

It  would  be  quite  unnecessary  now  for  me  to  speak  of  the 
height  and  thickness  of  the  walls  of  the  city,  or  the  material  ot 
which  they  are  composed,  or  even  the  number  of  forts  by  which 
those  walls  are  defended,  as  I  have  spoken  of  them  at  large  in  a 
previous  chapter  of  this  work.  That  the  walls  are  "  loopholed 
for  musketry,"  every  body  knows  who  is  blessed  with  the  ordi 
nary  degree  of  vision,  and  has  been  within  musket  range  of 
the  gates  of  the  city.  Mr.  Ruxton  must  have  an  infinitely 
higher  opinion  of  the  courage  and  discipline  of  "Missouri  vol 
unteers,"  than  he  does  of  those  of  his  own  countrymen,  for  it 
must  be  conceded  by  all  who  have  a  proper  regard  for  truth, 
and  whose  minds  and  judgments  are  not  biassed  by  prejudice, 
that  the  position  of  General  Morales  at  Vera  Cruz  was  much 
safer,  stronger,  and  more  tenable,  than  was  that  of  General 
Jackson  at  New-Orleans  ;  and  it  required  fourteen  thousand 
picked  men,  composing  the  flower  and  pride  of  the  British 
army,  with  the  cost  of  a  signal  defeat,  and  the  loss  of  twelve 
hundred  men,  besides  three  Generals,  to  make  even  a  formida 
ble  attempt  at  taking  his  works  by  assault. 

But  the  strongest  case  of  hallucination  on  record,  seems  to 
me  to  be,  that  Mr.  Ruxton,  or  any  other  man  possessing  ordi 
nary  capacities  of  discernment,  should  actually  pass  the  gates 
of  the  city,  wHch  are  all  protected  by  forts  one  on  either  side, 
and  reside  for  any  time  within  its  precincts,  and  then  go  away 
"  under  the  impression  that  it  was  not  a  fortified  place"  I  am 
clearly  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  find 
a  city  in  the  world  of  the  size  and  population  of  Vera  Cruz, 
whose  military  defences,  in  every  point  of  view,  are  superior 
to  it.  Is  it  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  Mr.  Gifford,  the 
British  Consul  residing  at  Vera  Cruz,  thought  it  was  a,  fortified 
place,  when  his  confidence  in  the  protection  which  its  works 
would  afford  him  and  his  family  was  so  strong  and  satisfactory, 
that  he  considered  himself  in  no  danger  whatever  within  its 
walls,  and,  with  the  rest  of  the  neutrals,  actually  refused  to  pass 
out  to  a  place  of  safety,  when  the  opportunity  was  offered  him 
by  the  American  commander  ?  Besides  the  strong  stone  wall 
by  which  the  city  is  completely  surrounded,  and  the  number 
and  strength  of  the  forts  by  which  it  is  protected  on  all  sides, 
it  is  placed  under  the  immediate  cover  of  four  hundred  pieces 
of  artillery,  which  are  frowning  down  upon  it,  in  proud  defiance 
from  the  impregnable  walls  of  the  renowned  castle. 

But  this  new  and  wonderful  discovery  has  been  kindly  re 
served  by  some  secret  and  unknown  agency,  to  swell  the  already 


42 

world-wide  notoriety  of  George  F.  Ruxton,  whose  profound 
historical  research,  and  inventive  and  scrutinizing  genius,  have 
astonished  the  world  with  the  startling  fact,  which  has  been  hid 
from  its  gaze  for  more  than  three  centuries,  that  "  the  city  of 
Vera  Cruz  is  nffi  a  fortified  pJ  ace." 

But  hear  again  what  this  distinguished  chronicler  of  events 
says  of  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa  ;  he  says : — "  The 
castle  couhl  have  been  taken  by  a  frigate's  boarders,  having  but 
seven  hundred  naked  Indians  to  defend  it."  It  is  universally 
conceded  that  this  is  the  strongest  fortification  in  the  world,  and 
has  been  pronounced  impregnable  to  artillery  by  some  of  the 
first  engineers  of  the  age  ;  and  yet  Mr.  Ruxton  conceives  it  to 
be  project  entirely  practicable  for  a  "frigate's  boarders"  to 
carry  it  by  assault.  It  is  generally  allowed  that  the  Mexicans 
have  good  engineers,  and  that  they  have  proved  themselves  to 
be  capable  of  managing  artillery  as  well  as  those  of  other 
nations  whose  military  resources  are  not  superior  to  those  of 
her  own.  Allowing  this  to  be  the  case,  and  judging  from  the 
number  and  weight  of  the  guns  which  it  mounts,  it  would  be 
quite  a  reasonable  conclusion  to  suppose  that  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa  possesses  the  means,  in  their  fullest  extent,  of 
sinking  every  ship  in  the  British  navy  in  forty-eight  hours,  if 
they  were  placed  within  range  of  its  guns,  many  of  which  are 
ninety- eight  pounders.  As  to  the  "seven  hundred  naked  In 
dians  "  who  are  said  by  our  author  to  man  the  guns  and  garrison 
the  castle,  I  would  venture  the  assertion  that  more  than  three 
times  that  number  of  picked  and  well-disciplined  troops  are 
always  stationed  within  its  walls  and  trained  and  drilled  for  the 
defence  of  that  particular  point.  The  circumstance  of  their 
being  Indians,  would,  I  should  think,  matter  very  little,  as  Indi 
ans  very  often  fight  as  bravely  as  white  men,  as  they  did,  for 
instance,  at  the  battle  of  Monongahala,  to  the  truth  of  which,  I 
would  suppose  that  the  red  coats  under  General  Braddock  could 
very  well  testify. 

Mr,  Ruxton  says  that  "the  castle  was  not  attacked,  and  was 
included  in  the  capitulation  without  being  asked  for."  1  would 
just  expose  the  falsehood  of  this  latter  assertion  by  giving  a 
short,  quotation  from  Ihe  instructions  given  by  General  Scott  to 
the  American  Commissioners  who  were  appointed  to  treat  of 
the  general  surrender.  The  following  is  the  8th  and  last 
article  of  those  instructions  :  "If  the  Mexican  Commissioners 
decline,  from  the  want  of  power  or  authority,  to  treat  of  the 
surrender  of  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  the  American 
Commissioners  will  urge  the  former  to  ask  for  such  powers, 
and  grant  any  necessary  delay  to  that  end ;  but  if  such  power 


IN  MEXICO.  43 

be  not  asked  for,  or  be  not,  on  application,  obtained,  the  Ameri 
can  Commissioners  may,  hesitatingly,  consent  to  refer  the 
subject  back  to  the  undersigned  for  further  instructions  to  meet 
that  state  of  things." 

The  sole  object  of  the  author  of  the  work  in  question  must 
be  obvious  to  the  most  cursory  reader,  which  is,  to  underrate 
the  prowess  of  the  American  arms,  by  attempting  to  show  the 
martial  imbecility  of  their  vanquished'  foes.  Otie  would  think 
that  the  mother  country,  with  the  proper  feelings  of  parental 
affection,  would  rather  indulge  in  a  laudable  spirit  of  family 
pride,  than  of  envious  jealousy,  at  the  growing  power  and 
greatness  of  her  Anglo-Saxon  descendants.  But  some  how  or 
other,  England  could  never  bear  to  hear  of  a  victory  gained  by 
the  American  arms  since  the  battle  of  New  Orleans ;  that  was 
the  crisis  that  made  her  or  undone  her  quite,  as  far  as  a  parental 
regard  for  her  offspring  was  concerned. 

Taking  the  English  people  in  the  aggregate,  and  upon  sub 
jects  where  their  jealousy  is  not  likely  to  become  excited,  and 
they  adhere  as  closely  to  the  truth,  and  exhibit  as  high  a  regard 
for  veracity,  as  any  people  in  the  world ;  but  the  fact  has  long 
since  been  established,  that  it  is  next  to  impossible  for  English 
writers  to  do  justice  to  American  history,  or  any  thing  that  has 
the  most  remote  bearing  upon  it.  It  may  be  more  of  a  misfor 
tune  than  a  fault ;  more  an  error  of  the  head  than  the  heart,  but 
it  seems  to  be  utterly  out  of  the  line  of  business  which  writers 
of  the  John  Bull  stamp  have  heretofore  prescribed  for  them 
selves,  to  speak  of  any  thing  American,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
confine  themselves  strictly  within  the  limits  of  historical  truth. 

Mr.  Ruxton  thought,  no  doubt,  that  if  he  could  make  the 
world  believe  that  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  was  nothing  more 
than  a  mud  fort,  and  that  the  castle  was  a  mere  slaughter  pen, 
ready  to  tumble  down  at  the  first  appearance  of  a  dozen  gun 
boats,  and  totally  incapable  of  resisting  the  attack  of  a  "frigate's 
boarders,"  that  he  would  thereby  prove  most  conclusively  the 
total  inefficiency  of  the  American  arms,  and  snatch  the  well- 
earned  laurels  from  the  victorious  and  invincible  Scott,  which  a 
nation's  gratitude,  and  the  world's  applause  have  woven  so 
thickly  about  his  honored  and  manly  brow.  But  the  highest 
efforts  of  the  towering  genius  of  our  author,  must  inevitably 
prove  powerless  and  unavailing ;  for  Major  General  Winfield 
Scott  will  continue  to  stand  upon  that  proud  eminence  which 
his  skill  and  valor  has  won,  the  glorious  hero  of  two  wars, 
when  the  name  of  Wellington  shall  have  faded  from  the  tablet 
of  fame. 


44 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  investment  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  having  been  closed 
by  the  surrender  of  the  garrison,  it  was  now  determined  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief  to  march  directly,  and  with  the  least 
possible  delay,  against  the  town  of  Alvarado,  which  he  had 
designated  as  the  next  point  of  attack.  This  town,  or  city,  is 
situated  about  sixty  miles  below  Vera  Cruz,  on  a  navigable 
river  of  the  same  name,  and  about  one  mile  from  its  mouth, 
where  it  empties  into  the  Gulf.  Alvarado  is  a  regularly  built 
town,  of  rather  a  dingy  and  ancient  appearance ;  the  streets  are 
wide,  wrell  paved  with  round  stones,  and  quite  commodious,  and 
cross  each  other  at  right  angles ;  and  it  may  probably  contain 
as  many  as  five  thousand  inhabitants. 

The  situation  of  the  city  is  very  low  and  level ;  to  look  at  it, 
you  would  think  it  was  lower  than  the  waters  of  the  Gulf;  it  is 
certainly  very  sickly ;  I  should  judge  that  no  foreigner  could 
live  there  with  safety  at  any  season  of  the  year.  It  is  infested 
with  swarms  of  musketoes,  sand  flies,  and  gnats,  which  swarm 
around  one  at  night  in  such  a  manner  that  it  is  impossible  to 
sleep  in  an  exposed  situation.  I  rolled  myself  in  my  blanket, 
covering  head  and  feet,  but  still  it  did  not  save  me  from  their 
annoying  attacks,  and  I  arose  in  the  morning  without  having 
slept.  This  is  a  well  fortified  city,  and  is  prepared  to  resist, 
with  much  success,  an  attack,  either  by  land  or  water ;  some 
of  the  finest  brass  pieces  I  ever  saw  were  captured  at  this 
place  on  a  fort  above  the  city. 

It  had  been  determined  that  this  city  should  be  attacked  by 
land  and  water,  simultaneously  ;  the  land  forces  under  General 
Quitman,  and  the  fleet  under  Commodore  Perry.  The  Georgia, 
Alabama  and  South  Carolina  regiments,  composing  General 
Quitman's  brigade,  were  ordered  to  take  up  the  line  of  march 
for  Alvarado,  about  4  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  of 
March.  After  a  very  fatigueing  march  of  several  hours  along 
the  sandy  beach,  we  arrived  at  a  small  village,  situated  on  the 
banks  of  a  stream  of  tolerably  fresh  water,  about  9  o'clock  at 
night.  Here  we  were  halted  for  the  night,  and  pitched  our 
camp,  (I  was  going  to  say  our  tents,  but  we  had  none,)  and 
with  a  blanket  each,  we  made  our  beds  upon  the  green  banks 
of  the  river,  and  slept  soundly  and  sweetly,  as  though  we 
were  reposing  upon  beds  of  down.  We  hastily  cooked  our 
scanty  morsel,  and  after  as  hastily  despatching  it,  sunk  down 


IN  MEXICO.  45 

upon  the  green  sward  around  our  camp  fires,  completely  ex 
hausted,  and  were  soon  locked  in  the  refreshing  embraces  of 
"tired  nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep,"  and  dreaming  of 
the  coming  fight,  or,  perchance,  of  home  and  friends. 

This  is  quite  a  small  town  or  village,  containing  not  more 
than  fifty  or  sixty  houses,  built  of  stakes  and  vines,  and  covered 
with  leaves  of  the  palm  or  palmetto;  and  yet  it  contained  a 
splendid  church,  which  must  have  cost  several  thousand  dollars  ; 
in  fact,  you  will  scarcely  find  a  dozen  houses  together  any  where 
in  Mexico,  without  a  church,  and  a  fine  one  too.  The  dews  on 
the  beach  at  night  are  very  heavy,  so  much  so,  that  one  not 
accustomed  to  them  would  think  that  he  had  been  exposed 
during  the  night  to  a  shower  of  rain;  and  it  is  considered  by 
the  natives  to  be  very  unwholesome,  if  not  certain  death,  to 
sleep  in  the  open  air  on  that  account. 

When  reveille  beat  next  morning  at  day-light,  our  camp  was 
all  in  motion,  and  before  sun-rise,  our  breakfast  was  cooked 
and  despatched,  which  consisted  of  a  tin  cup  of  coffee  and  a 
cracker,  and  the  line  of  march  was  formed,  and  all  in  readiness 
to  move.  After  replenishing  our  canteens  with  the  best  water 
we  could  find,  which  was  quite  brackish,  and  husbanding,  with 
much  care,  our  scanty  stock  of  pork  and  crackers,  we  proceeded 
to  cross  the  river  on  a  bridge  of  coats,  (the  first  case  of  the 
kind  on  record  since  Xerxes  crossed  the  Hellespont,)  it  being 
only  a  short  distance  from  its  mouth,  and  the  back  water  from 
the  Gulf  made  it  quite  deep  and  wide.  The  morning  was 
bright  and  clear,  and  the  sun  was  already  pouring  down  his 
heating  rays  upon  us,  while  our  tiresome  and  exhausting  march 
led  us  along  the  hot  and  scorching  sands  of  the  beach  for  some 
seven  or  eight  miles,  and  then  diverged  to  the  right,  leading  up 
a  deep  ravine,  studded  on  all  sides  with  the  most  beautiful  trees 
and  shrubbery  for  several  miles,  \vhen  we  entered  a  large  and 
extensive  prairie.  Here  the  road  was  firm  and  level,  and 
appeared  to  be  formed  of  a  kind  of  cement,  with  a  hard  smooth 
surface,  which  made  the  contrast  very  striking  and  pleasant 
between  it  and  the  hot  sandy  beach,  although  it  was  very  severe 
on  our  bruised  and  blistered  feet. 

We  wound  our  tortuous  way  far  into  the  bosom  of  this  appa 
rently  boundless  prairie,  until  we  lost  sight  of  every  tree  and 
shrub,  and  nothing  presented  itself  to  our  view  but  one  vast, 
level,  shrubless  plain,  covered  with  a  species  of  coarse  grass, 
and  grazing  herds  of  wild  cattle.  Although  exhausted  with 
fatigue,  and  almost  famished  for  want  of  water,  still  the  officers 
urged  us  on  our  tired  course,  tottering  with  feeble  limb  beneath 
-our  loads,  till  the  sun  went  down,  and  "up  rose  the  yellow 


46  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

moon,"  and  then  we  thought  surely  our  long  and  tedious  day's 
march  was  about  to  end ;  but  no,  we  were  compelled  to  reach 
water,  and  none  has  yet  appeared ;  and  the  word  was  still 
"onward,  boys,  onward." 

If  I  had  not  been  so  tired  and  thirsty,  I  could  certainly  have 
enjoyed  the  beautiful  scene  that  surrounded  us  on  all  sides ;  I 
think  there  are  very  few  scenes  in  nature  that  can  surpass,  in 
grandeur  and  sublimity,  moonlight  upon  a  prairie.  After  night 
I  passed  scores  of  soldiers  lying  by  the  road-side,  completely 
exhausted  fiom  thirst  and  fatigue,  who  had  sunk  down  to  rest 
upon  their  arms,  and  recruit  the  flagging  energies  of  exhausted 
nature;  and  notwithstanding  the  danger  of  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  prowling  bands  of  guerrillas  that  we  had  every 
reason  to  believe  were  hanging  upon  our  rear,  many  of  those 
that  stopped  by  the  way  passed  the  night  alone  upon  the  prairie, 
and  did  not  reach  the  camp  until  the  next  morning.  About- 9 
o'clock  at  night  we  reached  a  pond  of  warm  muddy  water,  a 
mere  mud  hole ;  and  as  it  was  the  first  we  had  seen  since  we 
entered  the  prairie,  there  was  a  general  rush  made  for  this 
**  spring  in  the  desert,"  and  in  a  few  moments  it  was  completely 
filled  with  men,  horses,  and  mules,  all  splashing  and  floundering 
in  the  most  splendid  confusion.  And  before  one  half  the  men 
could  slake  their  thirst,  or  fill  their  canteens,  the  warm  and 
stagnant  water  was  perfectly  thick  with  mud,  so  much  so,  that 
the  horses  which  came  up  last,  although  nearly  famished  from 
thirst,  positively  refused  to  drink  it.  And  this  was  the  kind  of 
water  that  three  regiments  had  to  quench  their  raging  thirst 
with,  and  use  for  the  purpose  of  cooking.  I  well  remember 
trying  to  make  some  coffee  with  it,  but  I  was  never  able  to 
color  the  water,  or  make  it  so  strong  that  the  taste  of  the  mud 
would  not  predominate. 

On  the  grassy  banks  of  this  lakelet,  we  kindled  our  camp 
fires,  and  cooked  our  hasty  suppers,  which  consisted  of  salt 
pork  and  crackers,  and  which  only  had  a  tendency  to  increase 
our  thirst.  As  for  coffee,  it  was  out  of  the  question,  as  we  all 
found  it  impossible  to  make  it  in  any  way  that  it  could  be  drank, 
from  the  quality  of  the  water  we  had.  Many  of  the  men  sank 
down  upon  the  very  spot  where  they  were  first  halted,  and  slept 
through  the  night,  without  even  attempting  to  procure  food  or 
water;  so  great  was  their  exhaustion,  that  sleep  instantly  pre 
dominated  the  moment  they  were  still,  and  tired  nature  forgot 
its  accustomed  wants  in  the  dreamy  regions  of  the  spirit  land. 
After  a  wakeful  and  troubled  sleep  of  a  few  hours,  the  drum 
awoke  us  from  our  grassy  beds,  and  the  dawning  of  the  mor 
row's  light  found  us  again  in  motion,  and  urging  our  devious 


IN  MEXICO.  47 

way  through  the  trackless  prairie,  with  swollen  and  blistered 
feet,  marking  the  ground  with  blood.  We  filled  our  canteens 
with  muddy  water,  which  had  become  a  little  more  cool  during 
the  night,  and  with  a  few  stale  bits  of  pilot  bread  in  our  haver 
sacks,  we  again  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and  movecl  off  in  solid 
columns,  with  our  guns  all  in  order,  as  our  officers  had  put  us  on 
our  guard  by  telling  us  that  an  attack  was  expected  sometime 
daring  the  day,  upon  the  rear  of  our  column,  as  evidences  had 
appeared  through  the  night  which  led  them  to  this  conclusion. 
We  marched  on,  sweating  and  groaning  beneath  our  loads, 
and  scorched  by  the  heating  rays  of  a  tropical  sun,  until  the 
water  in  our  canteens  was  completely  exhausted,  and  we  were 
on  the  look  out  for  another  pond,  as  running  streams  in  such  a 
country  as  that  were  completely  out  of  the  question,  and  no  body 
either  lookejl  for  or  expected  them. 

Just  as  our  thirst  was  at  its  highest  pitch,  and  our  straining 
eyes  had  swept  the  burning  plains  as  far  as  the  powers  of 
vision  could  extend,  in  search  of  some  cooling  lake,  some  green 
oasis  of  the  desert,  and  all  hopes  of  immediate  relief  had  van- 
ished,  the  sudden  cry  of  "a  lake!"  a  lake!"  pealed  forth  its 
glad  notes  upon  the  ears  of  the  famished,  and  fast  failing  ranks, 
and  ran  with  electric  rapidity  along  the  far  extending  lines.  I 
looked  and  saw  what  I  conceived  to  be  a  most  beautiful  lake  of 
clear  water,  skirted  with  herbage  and  small  trees,  and  large 
herds  of  wild  cattle  grazing  upon  its  margin,  and  I  could  dis 
tinctly  see  their  images  mirrored  upon  its  clear  bright  bosom. 
The  distance  appeared  to  be  not  exceeding  half  a  mile,  and 
several  horsemen  left  the  columns  and  struck  off  at  a  brisk 
gallop,  expecting  in  a  few  moments  to  be  able  to  slake  their 
thirst  with  cooling  draughts  of  nature's  satisfying  beverage,  fill 
their  canteens,  and  return  to  the  lines  again ;  and  large  numbers 
of  soldiers  left  the  ranks,  contrary  to  orders,  and  hastened  with 
eager  speed  towards  the  tempting  spot,  the  refreshing  fountain 
of  the  desert,  which  was  far  more  to  be  desired  than  the  youth- 
restoring  spring  found  by  Ponce  De  Leon,  after  a  weary  pil 
grimage  of  many  years.  But  the  fleetest  were  never  able  to 
reach  it;  and  the  weary  soldier  turned  back  with  his  thirst  only 
aggravated  by  the  race ;  like  the  base  of  the  rainbow,  it  seemed 
to  flee  at  their  approach,  until  they  were  perfectly  exhausted 
and  gave  up  in  despair.  The  fact  is,  it  was  not  a  lake,  but  one 
of  those  fanciful  illusions  which  seem  to  be  made  for  no  other 
purpose  than  to  lure  the  thirsty  traveller  from  his  arid  track,  for 
the  purpose  of  tempting  his  raging  thirst,  and  tantalizing  his 
parched  lip,  by  cheating  him  with  vain  hopes,  and  then  loosing 
him  upon  the  trackless  wilds  of  the  boundless  prairie.  This 


48  •COTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

optical  illusion,  or  image  of  water,  is  called  a  Mirage,  and  is 
produced  by  a  refraction  of  the  atmosphere,  or  of  the  rays  of 
light  falling  upon  it,  and  is  generally  found  on  prairies  and  in 
low  level  places  where  water  would  most  likely  be  found,  but 
always  in  places  where  it  is  not;  and  when  you  see  a  Mirage, 
and  know  it  to  be  one,  you  may  rest  assured  there  is  no  water 
in  the  vicinity. 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  we  reached  another  pond  of 
water,  but  it  was  very  little  better  than  the  one  which  we  had 
left  in  the  morning;  it  was  perhaps  a  little  more  clear,  and  had 
the  advantage  of  being  skirted  with  green  shrubbery,  which 
afforded  us  a  slight  protection  against  the  scorching  rays  of  the 
sun.  I  noticed  that  many  of  the  men,  on  drinking  large  drafts 
of  this  water,  would  become  deathly  sick,  and  vomit  it  up ; 
General  Quitman  tried  to  comfort  us  by  telling  the  men  that  he 
had  lived  for  several  weeks  at  a  time  on  worse  water  than  this, 
but  I  scarcely  believed  it,  for  I  saw  a  dead  alligator  in  the  pond 
where  the  men  were  drinking. 

We  were  permitted  to  rest  here  but  a  very  short  time,  but 
was  hurried  on,  in  hopes  of  reaching  some  better  water  before 
night,  but  disappointment  awaited  our  hopes.  We  were  pushed 
forward  on  a  forced  march  till  near  sun-down,  when  we  reached 
a  beautiful  palmetto  grove  near  the  beach,  but  not  a  drop  of 
water  was  to  be  found,  and  as  we  were  unable  to  march  any 
further,  we  pitched  our  camp  and  stopped  for  the  night.  As  a 
last  resort,  we  commenced  digging  holes  near  the  beach,  which 
we  extended  to  a  sufficient  depth  to  allow  the  water  to  rise  in 
the  bottom,  which  was  nothing  more  than  the  salt  water  drained 
through  the  sand.  Our  camp  to-night  was  on  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  romantic  spots  1  ever  saw.  Our  march  in  the 
afternoon  had  led  us  over  that  portion  of  the  prairie  which  is 
converted  into  a  marsh  in  the  rainy  season,  but  it  is  now  per 
fectly  dry,  and  broken  into  small  clods  of  a  dark  blue  color, 
somewhat  resembling  indigo;  while  the  whole  surface  was 
covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  tall  coarse  grass,  which 
extended  over  thousands  of  acres,  relieving  the  eye,  and  giving 
the  whole  panorama  a  most  beautiful  and  lovely  appearance. 
Just  on  the  margin  of  this  prairie,  and  immediately  connecting 
it  with  the  beach,  is  the  beautiful  palmetto  grove  above  men 
tioned,  extending  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  and  beneath 
whose  towering  and  gigantic  branches,  we  refreshed  ourselves 
and  rested  our  wearied  limbs. 

By  this  time  our  rations  of  salt  pork  were  exhausted,  which 
we  had,  until  now,  carried  in  our  haversacks,  and  as  the  Com 
missary  was  under  strict  orders  to  issue  no  more  rations  till  wa 


IN  MEXICO.  49 

arrived  at  Alvarado,  we  had  to  resort  to  any  means  within  our 
reach  to  obtain  supplies,  which  had  heretofore  barely  been 
sufficient  to  sustain  exhausted  nature.  Several  private  scouting 
parties  were  soon  out  upon  the  prairie  looking  for  cattle,  which 
they  intended  to  convert  into  beef  at  the  shortest  possible  notice, 
provided  they  could  bring  them  within  musket  range,  notwith 
standing  positive  orders  had  been  extended  to  all  the  men,  not 
to  fire  upon  a  single  co\v,  bull,  ox,  sheep,  or  goat,  during  the 
march.  But  necessity  knows  no  law,  and  we  were  all  hungry 
as  grayhounds,  and  in  for  a  mess  of  beef,  and  we  were  deter 
mined  to  have  it,  let  it  cost  what  it  might.  And  although  there 
were  secret  guards  sent  round  to  the  different  company  quarters, 
for  the  purpose  of  en  forcing  orders,  and  delecting  and  punishing 
the  disobedient,  yet,  in  spite  of  their  vigilance,  beeves  were 
killed  upon  the  prairie,  and  portions,  sufficient  for  present  pur 
pose's,  were  smuggled  into  camp,  and  we  built  our  fires  of  pal 
metto  leaves,  and  cooked  and  cat  till  we  were  satisfied,  and 
then  made  our  beds  upon  the  long  prairie  grass  beneath  the 
tall  palmetto  trees,  and  laying  our  heads  upon  our  cartridge 
boxes,  slept  soundly  till  morning. 

During  the  night,  the  water  rose  to  a  considerable  depth  in 
the  holes  or  little  wells  we  had  dug  on  the  beach  the  evening 
before,  and  in  the  morning  we  were  able  to  fill  our  canteens 
with  water,  only  ordinarily  salt  and  brackish.  It  was  hard  to 
tell  which  was  its  predominating  quality,  to  quench  or  excite 
thirst ;  and  by  twelve  o'clock,  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun 
shining  upon  our  canteens,  had  heated  it  to  that  extent  that  it 
would  almost  scald  our  lips  in  attempting  to  drink  it.  Our 
course  again  lay  along  the  sandy  beach,  close  upon  the  water's 
edge,  so  near  that  an  occasional  wave  would  break  at  our  feet 
and  fill  our  shoes  with  water;  and  then  again  our  route  would 
lead  us  further  from  the  water,  and  into  the  deep  burning  sand, 
which  seemed  to  be  heated  seven  times  hotter  than  usual,  and 
scorching  our  swollen  feet  into  blisters.  The  most  of  this 
day's  march  was  performed  without  bread  or  water,  as  we  had 
drawn  no  rations  since  we  left  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  last  crumb 
in  our  haversacks  had  been  consumed  for  breakfast  that  morn 
ing.  But  our  sufferings  and  privations,  severe  as  they  had 
been,  were  destined  to  undergo  a  temporary  suspension,  for  the 
space  of  a  few  days  at  least,  for  about  4  o'clock  on  the  afternoon 
of  Friday,  the  2d  of  April,  we  reached  the  suburbs  of  the  town 
of  Alvarado,  entered  it  without  opposition,  and  took  up  our 
quarters  in  some  vacant  buildings  near  the  plaza,  where  we 
rested  for  the  night,  as  well  as  ihe  fleas,  musquitoes,  and  sand 
flies  would  permit  us,  and  arose  in  the  morning  somewhat 
3 


50  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

refreshed  and  invigorated,  and  spent  quite  a  pleasant  day  in 
rambling  over  the  town.  Many  of  the  citizens,  on  hearing  of 
our  approach,  had  fled  to  the  country,  leaving  their  homes  to  the 
mercy  of  their  enemies,  but  enough  were  left  to  give  us  a 
hearty  welcome,  and  tender  up  the  hospitalities  of  the  city. 

The  Senoras  and  Senoritas,  as  is  the  case  all  over  Mexico, 
were  particularly  kind  and  polite  to  us,  bringing  us  bread  and 
fruit,  and  relieving  our  wants  in  every  possible  way.  1  know 
that  kindness  and  sympathy  for  the  afflicted  and  distressed  are 
striking  and  prominent  traits  in  the  character  of  woman  the 
world  over;  and  it  has  been  said,  that  wherever  suffering 
humanity  can  find  a  woman,  it  is  sure  to  find  a  friend  and  com 
forter,  one  that  will  hover  about  the  restless  couch  of  pain,  and 
bathe"the  fevered  brow  with  the  tears  of  sympathizing  affection  ; 
but  I  have  been  led  to  think,  that,  in  many  of  the  kind  and 
tender  feelings  of  the  human  heart ;  in  the  spontaneous  Out 
pouring  of  a  soul  full  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness,  that  the 
Mexica.n  ladies  excelled  those  of  all  other  countries.  As  soon 
as  the  line  of  march  was  dismissed,  and  our  quarters  assigned 
us,  we  all  (at  least  those  who  had  any  money)  struck  off  at 
tangents  into  every  part  of  the  city,  in  search  of  cook  shops, 
fondas,  and  coffee  houses.  I,  in  company  with  two  or  three 
others,  wandered  down  a  back  street  leading  towards  the  river; 
we  had  not  passed  more  than  two  blocks  before  our  attention  was 
attracted  to  a  low  dingey  building,  where  an  old  woman  and 
several  young  girls  were  employed  in  making  chocolate,  chili 
soup,  and  pandamice.  We  immediately  walked  in,  and  asked 
them  if  they  could  furnish  us  with  supper ;  the  old  lady,  after 
scrutinizing  us  for  a  moment,  replied,  "sc  Senior  pocotcmpo" 
(yes,  sir,  in  a  short  time).  We  waited  patiently  till  all  things 
were  in  readiness,  and  then  took  our  seats  at  the  table,  where 
we  despatched  a  most  excellent  supper,  while  having  our  cups 
re-filled,  and  hot  cakes  brought  us  by  one  of  the  aforesaid  young 
girls,  and  who,  by  the  bye,  was  a  perfect  paragon  of  beauty, 
untramelled  by  art,  unadorned  by  fashion,  a  child  of  nature, 
possessing  al;  the  loveliness  of  unconscious  and  original  beauty. 
And  this,  kind  reader,  was  "The  Baker  Girl  of  Alvarado'," 
whom  I  afterwards  attempted  to  immortalize  in  song,  and  actu 
ally  perpetra'ed  a  piece  of  poetry,  "meant  for  the  moving 
messenger  of  love,"  set  to  the  tune  of  "Johnson's  Wife  of 
Louisiana,"  nnd  which,  I  was  vain  enough  to  think,  would  look 
tolerably  well  in  print,  so  I  carefully  enveloped  it,  and  started 
it  for  the  States,  but  I  suppose  it  was  lost  upon  the  Gulf,  as  1 
never  could  hear  of  its  having  reached  the  "  White  Settle 
ments." 


IN  MEXICO.  51 

I  visited  the  family  several  times  during  our  stay  in  the  city, 
and  never  failed  to  receive  some  acts  of  kindness,  at  every 
visit;  but  that  which  1  esteemed  above  all  others,  were  the 
smiles  of  the  "  Baker  Girl,"  and  which  I  never  failed  to  receive 
as  often  as  I  called.  I  regretted  very  much  that  our  stay  at 
Alvarado  was  not  sufficiently  long  to  allow  me  to  form  any 
thing  like  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  any  of  the  citizens, 
but  I  made  the  best  use  of  the  time  that  I  could,  and  found  con 
genial  spirits,  even  there,  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

It  may  not  be  amiss,  just  here,  to  transcribe  a  few  paragraphs 
from  the  pages  of  "Kendall's  Santa  Fe  Expedition,"  which 
may  have  a  tendency  to  corroborate  the  sentiments  that  I  have 
just  advanced.  He  says  .- — "The  custom  of  throwing  the  left 
arm  around  each  other,  while  the  right  hands  are  clasped  as 
with  us,  is  common,  I  believe,  all  over  Mexico,  alike  when  two 
men,  or  two  women,  meet,  or  two  of  the  opposite  sexes  who  are 
well  acquainted  ;  and  perhaps  this  cordial  mode  of  reception 
from  the  females  of  the  country,  may  be  considered  as  one  of 
the  strongest  of  those  ties  which  certainly  bind  the  Americans 
and  English  to  the  land  of  Montezuma.  The  cold  and  phleg 
matic  Anglo-Saxon,  after  a  residence  of  somo  year  or  two  in 
Mexico,  leaves  it  with  regret;  for  there  is  a  grace  and  ease,  a 
fascination,  and  a  cordiality  of  greeting  among  the  senoritas  of 
that  country  which  cannot  be  forgotten. 

"  The  American  or  Englishman  reflects  upon  the  stiffness  and 
restraint  imposed  upon  the  actions  of  his  fair  countrywomen,  by 
cold,  conventional  rules — he  remembers  the  distant  bow,  the 
formal  shake  of  the  hand,  witlTwhich  he  will  be  greeted  on  his 
return,  and  contrasts  them  with  his  daily  salutations  from  the 
dark-eyed  daughters  of  the  sunny  land  in  which  he  is  sojourn 
ing.  The  result  is  altogether  in  favor  of  the  latter.  It  is 
indeed  a  delightful  thing  to  be  ever  greeted  with  the  most 
cordial  freedom,  when  we  know  that  that  fre.edom  is  entirely 
removed  from  forwardness — to  have  the  person  encircled  by 
arms  which  are  faultless  in  form — and  a  man  feels  that  it  is 
difficult  to  tear  himself  away  from  a  people  whose  manners,  in 
their  daily  intercourse,  are  in  every  respect  more  full  of  warmth 
and  kindness  than  those  of  his  own  countrymen  and  country 
women,  too ;  for  while  even  the  men  are  not  wanting  in  natural 
and  easy  politeness,  the  Mexican  senoras  have  a  frankness  of 
deportment,  a  kindness  and  singleness  of  disposition,  which 
captivate  the  natives  of  colder  climes,  and  frequently  did  I 
meet  with  countrymen  whose  love  for  their  father-land  had 
become  completely  estranged  by  the  fascinations  of  female 
society  in  Mexico.  The  women  of  that  country,  when  married 


53 

to  any  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  have  the  reputation  of  making 
the  beSt  and  most  affectionate  wives ;  and  scattered  through 
Mexico  may  be  found  innumerable  instances  where  foreigners, 
induced  by  no  other  motives  than  the  superior  charms  and 
excellent  domestic  endowments  of  the  women,  have  settled 
permanently  and  are  rearing  families." 

We  found,  on  our  arrival  at  Alvarado,  very  much  to  the 
disappointment  and  chagrin  of  General  Quitman,  and  Commo 
dore  Perry,  who  had  hoped  to  be  able,  in  this  event,  to  add 
another  leaf  to  the  chaplet  of  military  fame  that  already  encir 
cled  their  honored  brows,  that  the  town  had  surrendered  some 
two  days  before  to  Lieutenant  Hunter,  of  the  Navy,  and  that 
he  had  now  gone  up  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  demanding  the 
surrender  of  another  small  town,  the  name  of  which  I  do  not 
now  remember.  It  -will  be  remembered  by  the  reader,  that  an 
abortive  attempt  was  made  by  Commodore  Connor,  some 
months  before,  to  take  this  same  town  of  Alvarado,  which  he 
found  it  convenient  to  Jeave,  without  accomplishing  his  object; 
and  for  which,  perhaps,  there  was  some  blame  attached  to  him. 
And  now  Lieutenant  Hunter  is  to  be  dismissed  and  sent  home, 
for  being  guilty  of  the  simple  crime  of  doing  what  Commodore 
Connor  could  not  do,  or  what,  at  least,  he  did  not  do.  This,  at 
first  view,  would  have  somewhat  the  appearance  oi  inconsis 
tency,  and  look  like  rather  a  strange  course  of  proceeding ;  but 
when  all  the  circumstances  are  considered,  it  will  appear  that 
"the  head  and  front  of  his  offending"  was  that  he  acted  with 
out  orders,  and  thereby  incurred  the  displeasure  of  his  superior 
officers.  He  appears  to  have  been  sent  to  Alvarado,  not  to 
take  the  town,  or  even  to  fire  upon  it,  but  to  watch  the  garrison 
and  citizens,  and  keep  them  from  running  away,  until  Quitman 
and  Perry  could  get  there  to  whip  them,  and  then  it  would  be 
said  in  the  army,  and  published  in  the  papers,  that  they  had  done 
what  Commodore  Connor  could  not  do,  or,  at  least,  what  he, 
after  a  pretty  fair  trial,  had  failed  to  do. 

Lieutenant  Hunter  was  court-martialed,  suspended,  and  sent 
home  under  censure.  Immediately  after  his  arrival,  his  fellow- 
citizens  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  voted  him  a  sword,  and  the 
Department  finally  restored  him  his  commission,  and  appointed 
him  to  a  different  field  of  service  ;  and  thus  ended  the  case  of 
Lieutenant  Hunter,  charged  with  disobedience  of  orders. 
Commodore  Connor  was  superceded  and  sent  home  about  the 
time  of  the  investment  of  Vera  Cruz,  for  what  cause  I  know 
not ;  it  might  have  been  because  he  could  not  take  Alvarado,  or 
he  might  have  whispered  to  some  one  that  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa  was  impregnable,  and  never  could  be  reduced  by 


IN  MEXICO.  53 

a  naval  force;  but  all  this  is  only  vague  cor  ecture,  and  he 
might  have  been  sent  home  for  no  offence  at  al  ,  only  to  repose 
otium  cum  dignitate  upon  his  well  earned  1;  urels,  and  give 
place  for  another  distinguished  officer  to  win  sc  ne  on  the  same 
theatre  of  action.  But  it  matters  not  now,  <br  Alvarado  is 
taken,  and  the  keys  are  in  the  pocket  of  Lie  itenant  Hunter, 
and  he  most  undoubtably  wears  the  laurels  of  tF  it  achievement, 
and  will,  in  spite  of  the  world.  And  this  is  tin  secret  of  that 
long  and  famishing  march  of  Quitman's  brig  ide,  the  forlorn 
hope  of  the  army,  and  which  resulted  in  nothing  but  the  loss  of 
many  valuable  lives,  and  the  total  physical  pro:  Oration  of  those 
that  survived  it.  But  "the  most  unkindest  cut  (  fall  "  was,  that 
it  deprived  them  of  participating  in  the  dangers,  and  sharing 
the  honors,  of  the  glorious  and  well  fought  oattle  of  Cerro 
Gordo. 

We  left  Alvarado,  on  our  return  march,  at  qui  e  an  early  hour 
on  Sunday,  the  4th,  and  reached  Vera  Cruz,  by  another  forced 
march,  on  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  the  6th  of  J'.pril,  and  which 
would  have  given  us  ample  time,  had  we  bee  i  able  to  have 
marched  immediately  on,  to  have  reached  Cerr  >  Gordo  several 
days  before  the  fight ;  but  so  total  was  the  physical  prostration 
of  both  man  and  beast,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  move 
forward  to  any  advantage  till  the  morning  of  t»ie  18th,  which 
was  the  very  day  on  which  the  main  battle  was  fought.  And  I 
feel  very  confident  that  if  our  brigade  had  been  present,  and 
placed  in  the  front  ranks  of  that  bloody  battle,  exposed  to  the 
whole  line  of  Mexican  batteries,  that  it  would  not  have  suffered 
half  the  loss  that  it  finally  did  from  the  effects  of  that  eight 
days  march  to  and  from  Alvarado. 

About  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  18th,  our 
brigade  left  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  took  up  the  line  of  march 
towards  Plan  del  Rio,  which  we  then  supposed  to  be  the 
quarters  of  the  advance  of  our  army  under  General  Twiggs ; 
and  our  hopes  were  still  high  that  we  would  yet  be  enabled,  by 
a  forced  march,  to  reach  Cerro  Gordo  in  time  to  "have  a  place 
in  the  picture,"  but  we  were  disappointed  in  a  fight  at  Alvarado, 
and  the  same  fate  awaited  our  too  sanguine  expectations  in  the 
present  instance.  For  on  the  night  succeeding  the  day  of  our 
start  from  Vera  Cruz,  while  we  were  encamped  on  the  banks 
of  the  Antigua  river,  some  eighteen  miles  from  the  beach,  the 
news  of  the  result  of  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  reached  our 
camp  through  a  courier.  We  then  felt  confident  that  the  ball 
was  danced  out  without  giving  Quitman  and  his  men  any 
showing  whatever;  so  we  rose  up  as  one  man,  wrapped  our 
martial  blankets  about  us  (which  is  the  finishing  touch  of  the 
3*  » 


54 

soldier's  toilet)  and  gave  three  cheers  for  General  Scott  and  the 
Yankees,  am!  then  sunk  back  to  our  slumbers  again  and 
dreamed  of  better  days  and  happier  hours  "when  the  battle's 
lost  and  won.' 

On  the  9th5  General  Twiggs  left  Vera  Cruz  with  his  divi 
sion  of  regulars  for  Plan  del  Rio,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  place 
information  had  been  received  that  General  Santa  Anna  was 
concentrating  his  force  in  great  numbers,  for  the  purpose  of 
cutting  off  the  advance  of  the  American  army  towards  the  city 
of  Mexico.  A  few  days  after  the  departure  of  Twiggs,  General 
Worth,  with  his  division,  accompanied  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  left  for  the  same  point  of  destination,  with  the  intention  of 
concentrating  a  sufficient  force  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Mexican 
chief,  to  give  him  a  specimen  of  Yankee  chivalry  on  a  small  scale, 
at  whatever  phice,  or  against  whatever  odds,  they  might  meet 
him.  It  was  reported  that  his  army  numbered  from  ten  to 
fifteen  thousand  men,  composed  of  the  flower  of  the  Mexican 
army,  most  of  whom  "had  seen  service,"  and  knowing  as  we 
did  that  the  strong  mountain  passes  would  afford  him  almost 
every  advantage  that  could  be  desired,  we  were  all  anxiously 
looking  forward  to  the  bloody  and  thrilling  scenes  of  an  obstinate 
and  hard  fought  battle. 

Both  parties  regarded  the  present  position  of  the  Mexican 
army  as  a  key  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  if  victory  should  again 
perch  upon  the  banner  of  the  stars,  that  we  might  already,  in 
anticipation,  conceive  ourselves  to  be  "revelling  in  the  Halls 
of  the  Montezumas."  Santa  Anna  himself  said,  in  anticipa 
tion  of  a  splendid  victory,  that  if  General  Scott  could  drive  him 
from  his  present  position,  that  he  \vould  give  him  the  keys  of 
the  capital,  and  offer  him  a  kind  and  hearty  welcome  within  the 
walls  of  the  proud  city  of  the  Aztecs.  And  sure  enough  did 
the  Hero  of  Chippewa  and  Lundy's  Lane  write  out  his  title  to 
them  in  blood  on  the  glorious  18th,  when  the  flower  of  Ana- 
huac's  chivalry  quailed  and  fled  before  the  American  eagle. 

The  tierra  calienies  (hot  or  burning  country)  which  termi 
nates  the  low,  level,  sandy  region,  extending  about  fifty  miles 
from  the  beach  towards  the  interior,  terminates  at  Plan  del  Rio, 
the  present  camp  of  the  American  army.  The  road  is  then 
skirted  by  long  ranges  of  high,  rugged  and  precipitous  hills, 
which  completely  shut  in  the  narrow  mountain  defiles  on  all 
sides.  The  most  commanding  points  of  those  hills  had  been 
fortified  and  garrisoned  by  the  Mexican  army,  from  which  they 
felt  confident  that  no  earthly  power  could  ever  drive  them. 
Santa  Anna  himself  boasted  that  the  ruthless  invaders  of  his 
country  should  find  a  Thermopylae  in  every  mountain  pass,  and 


IN  MEXICO.  55 

that  he  would  water  the  green  grass  of  the  vallies  with  the 
blood,  and  fill  the  ravines  with  the  mangled  carcasses  of  the 
"barbarians  of  the  north." 

General  Twiggs,  with  his  division,  reached  Plan  del  Rio  on 
the  llth,  where  the  advanced  guard,  composed  of  a  body  of 
dragoons  under  Colonel  Harney,  encountered  and  drove  from 
the  neighboring  heights,  a  large  body  of  the  enemy's  lancers. 
After  which,  strong  piquets  were  thrown  out,  and  the  division 
encamped  on  the  ground  for  the  night ;  the  intention  of  General 
Twiggs  being  to  cover  a  reconnoisance  of  the  position  of  the 
enemy's  forces  on  tne  following  day,  and,  if  deemed  practicable, 
to  make  a  spirited  and  effective  attack  upon  the  whole  line  of 
his  works.  It  was  the  original  design  of  General  Twiggs  to 
have  made  the  general  attack  at  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
13th,  but  before  that  hour,  the  volunteer  brigades  of  Generals 
Pillow  and  Shields  arrived  in  camp,  but  were  found  unable, 
from  long  marches  and  excessive  fatigue,  to  participate  with 
advantage  in  the  battle  at  so  early  a  period,  on  account  of 
which,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  those  volunteer  Generals, 
General  Twiggs  consented  to  postpone  the  contemplated  attack 
for  one  day.  But  during  the  night  of  the  13th,  and  while 
General  Twiggs  was  maturing  his  plan  of  operations  for  the 
succeeding  day,  an  order  reached  him  from  Major  General 
Patterson,  requiring  him  to  suspend  all  further  offensive  opera 
tions  until  the  arrival  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  or  until 
further  instructed  by  himself.  I  would  suppose  that  the  recep 
tion  of  this  order  was  not  very  agreeable  to  the  feelings  of  the 
old  veteran,  as  he  might  already  have  anticipated  the  proud 
distinction  of  being  first  in  command  at  that  celebrated  and  well- 
fought  battle ;  but  I  think  he  might  be  satisfied  with  the  glory 
he  won  in  securing  for  his  command  the  proud  title  of  "  The 
Cerro  Gordo  Division." 

General  Scott  did  not  come  up  until  the  16th,  when  he  ver 
bally  ordered  General  Twiggs  to  organize  and  push  forward  his 
line  of  operations  on  the  right  of  the  national  road,  which  he 
was  enabled  to  reach,  and  get  in  position  by  11  o'clock,  the 
main  body  of  his  forces  being  within  seven  hundred  yards  of 
the  enemy's  works.  During  the  afternoon  of  the  17th,  and 
after  Twiggs'  line  of  battle  had  been  formed,  he  was  reinforced 
by  General  Shields'  brigade  of  volunteers,  composed  of  two 
Illinois  regiments,  commanded  by  Colonels  Baker  and  Fore 
man,  and  the  New  York  regiment  under  Colonel  Burnett,  all  of 
which  did  effective  service,  and  won  much  distinction  in  the 
bloody  work  of  storming  the  heights  tind  carrying  the  enemy's 
works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  It  appears  that,  from  the 


56 

sickness  of  Brigadier  General  PersiferF.  Smith,  Colonel  Har- 
ney,  of  the  dragoons,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  first 
brigade,  second  division,  which  took  quite  an  active  part  in  the 
operations  against  the  enemy  on  the  17th  and  18th. 

As  soon  as  our  heavier  pieces  had  announced,  on  the  morning 
of  the  18th,  that  the  ball  had  opened  and  effective  operations 
commenced,  Colonel  Harney,  with  large  reinforcements  from 
the  3d  and  7th  Iqfantry,  advanced  his  skirmishing  parties 
within  the  very  face  of  the  enemy,  who  stood  their  ground  with 
astonishing  firmness  under  an  incessant  shower  of  leaden  hail 
which  poured  in  upon  them  from  all  sides.  Notwithstanding 
the  great  unevenness  of  the  ground  over  which  this  brigade  had 
to  pass,  and  the  many  obstacles  to  overcome  in  its  onward 
movement,  yet  it  faltered  not,  but  moved  firmly  and  steadily 
forward,  in  the  face  of  a  most  galling  and  destructive  fire,  and 
eventually  succeeded  in  carrying  the  enemy's  works  on  Iho 
heights — driving  them  from  their  strong  positions,  and  putting 
the  force  that  defended  them  completely  to  flight. 

Twiggs'  division  fought  like  tried  and  veteran  heroes  ef  an 
hundred  battles,  standing  in  the  deadly  breach,  and  contending 
against  fearful  odds,  with  a  determination  that  seemed  to 
demand  victory  or  annihilation.  The  old  General  himself 
towered  before  his  men  like  a  pillar  of  fire,  raging  like  a 
wounded  lion  in  sight  of  his  prey,  his  gray  hair  floating  upon 
the  battle's  breeze,  while  his  voice  of  thunder  sounded  along 
the  advancing  lines,  and  was  heard  above  the  din  of  battle 
upon  every  part  of  the  field.  His  division  won  their  laurels 
well,  and  at  the  price  of  blood,  and  may  they  wear  them  long ; 
and  e'er  the  bright  garlands  of  victory  shall  fade  from  their 
brows,  or  one  leaf  be  plucked  from  the  green  chaplet  of  their 
fame,  the  generous  pulsation's  of  a  nation's  gratitude  must  cease 
to  beat  for  her  patriotic  sons,  whose  strong  arms  and  brave 
hearts  bore  her  proud  banner  on  to  victory  high  above  the  iron 
storm  where  death  shots  were  falling  thick  and  Hist. 

Here  the  gallant  Shields  fell  at  the  head  of  his  command, 
while  fearlessly  leading  them  on  to  the  charge,  pierced  through 
the  lungs  by  a  grape  shot,  inflicting  a  wound  which  all  sup 
posed  to  be  mortal ;  but  contrary  to  the  expectations  of  his 
friends,  he  was  kindly  spared  by  a  merciful  Providence  to  be  of 
further  service  to  his  country,  and  lead  his  command  to  victory 
in  several  other  bloody  and  well-fought  battles.  Most  of  the 
operations  against  the  enemy  of  which  I  have  yet  spoken,  were 
carried  on  upon  the  left  of  the  pass,  or  Jalapa  road ;  but  there 
were  many  other  points  where  bloody  work  was  done  on  that 
day.  The  first  volunteer  brigade,  under  General  Pillow,  was 


IN  MEXICO.  57 

scattering  death  and  dismay  among  the  Mexicans  on  the  right, 
and  occasionally  showing  themselves  to  their  enemies  in  a 
blaze  of  fire.  The  principal  object  of  this  movement  was  to 
divert  attention  from  the  main  attack,  which,  it  was  designed, 
should  shortly  be  made  upon  the  enemy's  left  and  rear.  A 
storming  party,  composed  of  detachments  from  Pillow's  brigade, 
was  formed,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Haskell, 
of  the  2d  Tennessee  regiment,  which  was  designed  to  operate 
against  one  of  the  enemy's  principal  batteries.  The  party  was 
almost  instantly  organized  and  put  in  motion,  and  being  inspired 
by  the  fearless  and  intrepid  conduct  of  their  brave  and  gallant 
commander,  and  the  enthusiastic  shouts  of  the  advancing 
columns,  the  whole  detachment  moved  on  with  great  firmness, 
under  a  most  galling  and  well-directed  fire  of  grape  and  canister, 
which  mowed  them  down  by  platoons,  until  within  a  few  paces 
of  the  enemy's  works,  when  the  fire  from  a  battery  of  seven 
pieces  of  artillery  became  so  destructive,  and  the  slaughter  so 
great,  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire,  which  they-did  in  good 
order,  leaving  almost  one-third  of  their  number  dead  and 
wounded  upon  the  ground. 

Dispositions  were  immediately  made  for  storming  another 
battery  by  a  column  under  Colonel  Wynkoop;  but  just  as  the 
party  was  put  in  motion,  and  the  advance  commenced,  the 
whole  line  was  halted  by  superior  orders,  and  ordered  back  to 
the  point  from  whence  they  had  started,  as  it  had  just  been 
ascertained  that  the  whole  line  of  works  on  the  heights  of 
Cerro  Gordo  had  been  carried,  rendering  all  further  demonstra 
tions  against  that  point  altogether  useless. 

General  Pillow's  brigade  was  composed  of  the  first  and 
second  Tennessee,  and  the  first  and  second  Pennsylvania  regi 
ments  of  volunteers,  with  a  detachment  of  Tennessee  horse, 
commanded  by  Captain  Caswell,  and  Captain  Williams'  com 
pany  of  Kentucky  volunteers.  It  was  previously  stated  that  a 
storming  party  was  formed  of  a  detachment 'from  this  brigade 
commanded  by  Colonel  Haskell,  and  designed  to  operate  against 
battery  No.  2 ;  but  it  would,  perhaps,  be  more  proper  to  state 
that  this  whole  brigade  was  formed  into  two  distinct  storming 
parties,  the  first  of  which,  and  its  point  of  attack,  I  have  already 
designated ;  'the  second  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Wynkoop, 
and  designed  to  operate  against  battery  No.  1.  The  first  of 
these  parties,  under  Colonel  Haskell,  made  a  noble  and  daunt 
less  effort  to  accomplish  the  object  of  their  formation,  and  I  am 
free  to  say,  that  if  any  body  of  men  in  the  world  could  have 
taken  that  battery  under  the  same  circumstances,  that  they  were 
the  very  troops  of  all  others  to  have  done  it;  those  who  stood 


58  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

the  fire  of  the  Black  Fort  at  Monterey,  would  not  be  apt  to  falter 
in  the  hour  of  danger,  upon  the  heights  of  Cerro  Gordo.  It  is, 
however,  true  that  their  object  was  not  accomplished,  and  they 
were  compelled  to  retire  before  the  wasting  effects  of  a  mur 
derous  fire  of  seven  pieces  of  artillery;  but  not  the  first  particle 
of  blame  can,  in  any  way,  be  attached  to  either  officers  or 
men,  for  it  was  the  only  movement  which  could  have  been 
made,  that  would  have  saved  that  gallant  corps  from  utter  anni 
hilation. 

The  party  under  Colonel  Wynkoop  did  not.  get  in  position  in 
time  to  act  in  concert  with  Colonel  Haskell,  and  before  they 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  point  from  whence  the  assault  was  to 
have  commenced,  the  fire  of  the  main  attack  on  the  enemy's 
left  had  ceased;  after  which,  it  was  deemed  prudent  by  the 
commander  of  the  brigade  to  suspend  all  further  operations 
until  the  fire  should  open  again,  or  he  should  receive  further 
instructions  from  the  General  in-Chief. 

Brigadier  General  Pillow,  in  his  official  report  of  the  opera 
tions  of  his  brigade,  uses  the  following  language : — "  Colonel 
Haskell's  assaulting  force,  composed  of  his  own  regiment  (2d 
Tennessee  foot,)  Captain  Williams'  Kentucky  company,  and 
Captain  Naylor's  company  of  the  second  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
being,  from  the  nature  of  its  duties,  most  exposed  to  the  terrible 
fire  of  the  enemy,  sustained  the  shock — both  officers  and  men — • 
with  a  firmness  and  constancy  worthy  of  high  commendation." 

General  Pillow  was  wounded  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  by  a  grape 
shot  in  the  hand  or  arm,  which  disabled  him,  for  the  time,  from 
giving  orders,  when  the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  upon 
Colonel  Campbell,  who  instantly  began,  with  great  promptness 
and  energy,  to  make  preparations  for  another  attack. 

It  was  immediately  discovered,  on  the  opening  of  battery  No. 
2  upon  the  assaulting  force,  that  it  mounted  more  guns  than 
was  at  first  anticipated,  some  of  their  heaviest  pieces  having 
been  concealed  by  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  some  were 
masked,  with  a  design,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  of  drawing 
our  forces  into  an  ambuscade,  and  rendering  their  destruction 
more  certain.  This  was  not  discovered  by  our  troops  until 
after  the  assault  had  commenced,  yet  none  seemed  to  falter,  or 
doubt  their  final  success,  or  shrink  from  the  performance  of 
their  duty,  although  their  ranks  were  being  mowed  down  with 
fearful  effect,  and  men  were  falling  at  every  step.  The  cannon 
balls  were  ploughing  up  the  ground,  and  sweeping  away  the 
chaparrel,  in  every  direction,  and  literally  covered  the  advanc 
ing  columns  with  blood  and  dirt.  And  yet  their  course  was 
onward,  closing  up  their  fast  thinning  ranks,  and  treading  over 


IN  ifSxieo.  59 

the  wounded  and  dying,  until  they  were  almost  in  the  very 
throats  of  the  guns;  so  near  that  the  fire  would  singe  the  hair 
of  the  front  ranks ;  and  still  they  faltered  not,  even  in  the  very 
jaws  of  death,  and  every  man  was  found  at  his  post  when  the 
retreat  was  sounded. 

The  2d  and  3d  infantry,  under  the  command  of  Colonels 
Morris  and  Alexander,  bore  a  gallant  and  conspicuous  part  in 
carrying  the  heights,  and  was  ever  among  the  foremost  where 
danger  was  to  be  met  and  glory  won.  Both  these  regiments, 
headed  by  their  gallant  commanders,  fought  with  a  soldier-like 
bearing,  and  a  determined  courage,  which  seemed  to  defy  the 
fearful  odds  that  were  engaged  against  them,  moving  steadily 
on,  and  with  an  unbroken  front,  toward  the  enemy's  blazing 
batteries,  like  enraged  and  hungry  tigers  confident  of  their  prey. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  Captain  Patten,  of  the  United  States 
army,  the  poet-soldier,  commanded  company  K,  of  the  2d 
infantry,  and  had  his  left  hand  shot  off  by  a  cannon  ball,  at  the 
head  of  his  company,  and  while  gallantly  leading  them  on  to 
victory  or  death.  He  wrote  a  few  beautiful  verses  in  carnpthe 
night  before  the  battle,  which  was  published  in  the  "  American 
Star"  and  other  papers  in  Mexico,  and  I  believe  they  were 
copied  by  some  of  the  papers  in  this  country.  He  is  one  of  the 
sweetest  and  most  pathetic  poets  of  his  day,  and  has  written 
several  pieces  which  have  been  published  in  some^jf  the  leading 
magazines  of  this  country.  I  remember  reading  several  pieces 
which  he  wrote  in  the  army  during  the  Florida  war,  which 
were  almost  inimitable. 

The  4th  artillery,  commanded  by  Major  Gardner,  also  did 
effectual  service,  and  greatly  distinguished  themselves  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  a  very  strong  point  on  the  heights  of  Cerro 
Gordo.  It  was  also  called,  under  a  most  galling  fire,  to  cover 
the  advance  of  Captain  Taylor's  and  the  mountain  howitzer 
batteries,  which  it  did  in  most  gallant  style,  but  with  severe 
loss,  and  then  bivouacked  for  the  night  of  the  17th  on  the 
heights  which  their  valor  had  won  from  the  enemy  during  the 
day.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  this  regiment  was  ordered 
to  join  the  2d  infantry,  and  proceed  on  the  line  turning  the 
enemy's  left ;  and  then,  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  the 
General  of  division,  it  passed  again  under  the  immediate  fire 
of  one  of  the  heavy  Mexican  batteries  on  the  heights,  and  then 
filed  to  the  right  into  a  ravine.  But  finding  this  rather  an 
exposed  position,  its  flank  being  raked  by  a  galling  fire  of 
grape  and  canister,  it  was  directed  to  advance  rapidly  up  the 
heights  and  join  the  effective  and  spirited  operations  of  that 
portion  of  the  army,  which  it  accomplished  in  fine  style,  and 


60 

with  the  least  possible  delay.  It  finally  formed  again  on  the 
height,  and  passing  on  towards  the  Jalapa  road,  joined  in  the 
general  pursuit  of  the  routed  forces  towards  the  city.  On  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  the  Mexican  army  was  very  much  aston 
ished,  upon  finding  our  mountain  howitzer  batteries  opening 
upon  their  lines  from  the  tops  of  the  surrounding  hills,  where 
they  had  never  dreamed  that  artillery  of  any  kind  could  be 
carried,  or  even  tenable  positions  for  troops  obtained. 

The  whole  plan  of  attack  being  adopted,  and  the  precise 
manner  of  most  successfully  reducing  the  enemy's  works  agreed 
upon,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  18lh,  each  division,  brigade, 
and  regiment,  having  its  separate  and  distinct  duty  assigned  it, 
our  whole  effective  force,  consisting  of  8,500  men,  moved  for 
ward  in  solid  column  against  the  long  extended  lines  of  the 
enemy's  entrenched  positions,  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  suc 
cess  of  our  troops  was  complete,  and  the  victory  brilliant  and 
decisive.  Pillow's  brigade  assaulted  the  strongly  fortified 
points  on  the  right  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  although  com 
pelled  to  retire,  yet  the  effects  of  their  movements  were  crowned 
with  the  most  satisfactory  and  beneficial  results.  To  Tvviggs' 
division  was  assigned  the  difficult  and  dangerous  task  of  storm 
ing  the  strong  and  vital  point  of  Cerro  Gordo,  piercing  the 
centre,  and  gaining  command  of  all  the  entrenchments,  which 
completely  c*t  off  all  chances  of  support  from  any  quarter. 
Colonel  Riley's  brigade  of  infantry  pushed  rapidly  on  against 
the  main  body" of  the  enemy,  capturing  one  of  their  strongest 
positions,  and  turning  their  own  guns  with  deadly  effect  upon  the 
retreating  foe,  who  were  now  flying  in  every  direction.  Shields' 
brigade  bravely  assaulting  the  left,  carried  the  rear  battery, 
consisting  of  five  guns,  on  the  Jalapa  road,  and  aided  materially 
in  completing  the  final  rout  of  the  enemy. 

The  vanquished  foe  was  now  in  full  retreat,  being  routed  at 
every  point,  leaving  their  guns,  baggage  wagons,  and  military 
stores,  in  the  possession  of  the  conquerors;  while  their  neglected 
wounded  and  dead,  covered,  almost  literally,  the  whole  crest  of 
the  hill,  and  the  ravine  below.  Santa  Anna's  Carriage  and 
travelling  trunk,  together  with  his  military  chest,  containing  a 
large  amount  of  valuable  plate,  and  22,000  dollars  in  .specie, 
all  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans ;  and  the  Old  Hero 
himself  only  saved  his  precious  person  by  cutting  loose  a  mule 
from  his  carriage,  on  which  he  was  enabled,  by  light  squeezing, 
to  make  his  escape  towards  Jalapa. 

Only  a  small  portion  of  our  army  remained  on  the  field  of 
battle,  just  a  sufficient  force  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  and 
guard  the  baggage  wagons  and  military  stores ;  the  balance  all 


IN  MEXICO.  61 

joining  in  the  pursuit,  which  they  continued  till  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  city  of  Jalapa,  where  night  overtook  them,  and  the 
troops  were  called  off.  The  road  for  twelve  miles  was  literally 
strewed  with  dead  horses,  and  killed  and  wounded  Mexicans. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded,  during  the  pur 
suit,  was  very  great;  hundreds  fell  beneath  the  reeking  blades 
of  Harney's  dragoons,  while  the  sharp-shooters  of  our  advance 
continued  to  pick  off  the  frightened  fugitives  at  every  turn. 
Thus  it  appears  that  a  small  undisciplined  army  of  8,000  men, 
labouring  under  every  disadvantage  which  nature  and  art 
combined  could  throw  in  their  way,  met  and  vanquished  a 
body  of  15,000  Mexicans  in  entrenched  positions,  and  possess 
ing  the  invaluable  advantages  of  narrow  defiles  and  mountain 
passes. 

Santa  Anna  himself,  after  a  long  succession  of  defeats,  counted 
on  certain  victory  this  time;  lying  securely  behind  stone  walls, 
and  entrenched  on  the  tops  of  mountains  of  steep  and  difficult 
ascent,  and  which  were  considered  almost  inaccessible  to  the 
active  hunter  of  the  forest ;  and  defended  by  fifty  pieces  of  heavy 
artillery,  he  was  dreaming  of  an  easy  /victory,  attended  with 
the  utter  rout  and  discomfiture  of  the- American  army.  For  his 
vanity  never  permitted  him  for  a  moment  to  think  that  all  the 
military  resources  of  the  United  States  combined  could  ever 
drive  him  away  from  his  present  strongly  fortified  position. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken  on  the  field  and  in  the  pursuit 
amounted  to  about  3,000,  together  with  5,000  stand  of  arms 
and  forty-three  pieces  of  heavy  artillery.  Our  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  431,  of  whom  sixty-three  were  killed.  Our  loss 
was  found  to  be  much  heavier  than  was  at  first  anticipated, 
owing  to  the  deadly  effect  of  the  fire  from  the  enemy  upon  our 
troops  in  the  ravines,  and  those  ascending  the  sides  of  the 
mountain.  The  enemy's  loss  was  estimated  at  about  1200,  and 
it  was  perhaps  much  heavier  even  than  that,  as  a  great  many  of 
the  dead  were  thrown  over  the  precipices,  and  others  of  the 
wounded  escaped  in  the  chaparrel  during  the  pursuit. 

I  had  the  privilege  of  passing  over  and  surveying  this  battle 
ground  three  days  after  the  fight ;  and  what  I  saw  there  had  a 
tendency  to  give  me  a  more  correct  idea  of  the  horrors  of  war 
than  any  thing  I  had  ever  read  or  seen  before.  Here  lay,  in 
scattered  and  terrible  confusion,  every  thing  that  the  mind  of 
man  can  conceive  to  be  connected  with  the  science  and  practice 
of  war — dismounted  and  battered  cannon — broken  carriages — 
piles  of  powder  and  balls — broken  muskets — dead  horses  and 
mules — caps  and  coats — legs  and  arms,  and  putrid  carcasses  of 
men  torn  and  mangled  by  cannon  balls,  and  left,  half  devoured 


62 

by  the  beasts  and  birds  of  prey ;  and  the  whole  paraphernalia  of 
war,  lying  in  one  mingled  and  undistinguishable  mass,  while 
the  putrid  stench  that  rose  from  every  hill  and  valley,  caused  a 
sickening  sensation,  and  almost  rendered  the  atmosphere  insup 
portable.  Here  a  small  cross,  formed  of  two  sticks  tied 
together,  would  mark  the  spot  where  a  Mexican  officer  had  been 
buried  ;  and  hard  by  lay  a  poor  ranchero,  over  whom,  perhaps, 
a  few  shovels  of  dirt  had  been  hastily  thrown,  with  his  hands 
and  feet  still  protruding  above  the  earth;  while  the  howl  of  the 
wolves,  and  the  mournful  cries  of  the  jackall,  which  was  hang 
ing  round,  eager  for  their  prey,  were  heard  from  the  adjacent 
hills ;  and  flocks  of  hungry  vultures  were  hovering  near,  and 
perching  upron  every  tree  and  shrub,  ready  to  whet  their  barbe- 
rous  beaks  upon  the  bones  of  the  gallant  dead.  Here  was 
plainly  marked  out  the  course  of  Harney's  brigade,  the  whole 
earth  being  cut  arid  furrowed  with  cannon  balls,  and  the  track 
covered  with  the  shattered  fragments  of  broken  arms,  and  torn 
and  tattered  uniforms,  perfectly  riddled  \vith  balls. 

Santa  Anna's  forces  at  this  place  were  composed  of  the 
flower  and  chivalry  of  the  Mexican  republic;  a  large  portion 
of  them  were  those  who  stood  the  deadly  fire  of  Taylor  in  the 
bloody  gorges  of  Buena  Vista,  and  heard  the  fearful  whistling 
of  Captain  Bragg's  grape ;  and  now  they  had  mustered  their 
iron-clad  battalions,  and  corne,  in  all  the  pomp  and  pride  of 
glorious  war,  to  wipe  out  the  stain  of  an  inglorious  defeat,  and 
strike  another  and  more  powerful  blow  for  the  honor  and  safety 
of  their  country.  Among  whom  was  many  naval  officers,  to 
gether  with  a  large  number  of  the  best  and  most  experienced 
artillerists  in  the  republic,  many  of  whom  had  been  trained  in 
the  schools  of  Europe.  There  were  also  found  among  the  dead 
on  the  battle  field,  many  of  the  officers  who  commanded  in  the 
garrison  at  Vcra  Cruz,  and  whom  General  Scott  released 
without  requiring  the  usual  parole  of  honor,  on  account  of  their 
distinguished  gallantry.  A  young  officer  of  the  name  of  Hal- 
zinger,  and  a  German  by  birth,  who  greatly  distinguished  him 
self,  and  won  the  admiration  and  applause  of  the  whole  army, 
by  his  daring  and  brilliant  exploits  during  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz,  was  found  and  recognized  on  the  field  of  Cerro  Gordo, 
weltering  in  his  blood  among  the  dangerously  wounded;  he 
received  the  kind  care  and  attention  of  our  surgeons,  but 
whether  he  ever  recovered  or  not  I  was  never  able  to  learn. 
During  the  heaviest  fire  from  our  batteries,  a  flag  staff  was  shot 
away  from  one  of  the  Mexican  forts,  which,  when  perceived 
by  this  young  officer,  he  leaped  from  the  parapet,  snatched  up 
the  fallen  standard,  and  stood  upon  the  walls  amid  the  hottest 


IN  MEXICO.  63 

fire,  and  held  it  aloft  by  the  broken  shaft  until  a  new  one  could 
be  procured,  and  then  gallantly  restored  it  to  its  proper  place. 

It  is  evident  that  the  affair  of  Cerro  Gordo  was  one  of  the 
hardest  fought  and  best  contested  battles  on  that  line  ;  and 
judging  from  the  strength  and  number  of  their  fortifications, 
and  the  appearances  of  general  preparation  on  the  field  of 
battle,  as  exhibited  after  the  fight,  it  was  equally  evident  that  it 
was  intended  by  the  Mexicans  to  be  the  last  formidable  stand 
they  would  be  able  to  make  on  this  side  of  the  walls  of  the  city 
of  Mexico.  In  the  trenches  here,  were  found,  not  only  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  regular  and  irregular  army,  who  were  under 
the  regular  pay  of  the  government,  and  on  whom  their  officers 
and  country  had  heretofore  depended  for  all  the  fighting,  but  the 
elite  of  the  republic  were  there  found,  armed  and  fighting,  side 
by  side,  with  the  common  soldiers.  The  priest  and  the  layman — 
the  legislator  and  the  lepero — the  judge  and  the  criminal — the 
expounder  and  the  violator  of  the  law — all,  from  the  highest 
dignitary  of  church  or  state,  to  the  degraded  menial  who  begs 
his  scanty  morsel  in  the  streets,  were  there  found  mingled  and 
mixed  into  one  confused  and  crowded  phalanx,  and  fighting  side 
by  side  in  the  same  ditch,  in  defence  of  the  honor  of  their  com 
mon  country. 

The  padre  had  left  the  holy  altar,  and  the  lawyer  his  client — 
and  the  tailor  his  board — and  the  merchant  his  desk — and  the 
husband  his  young  and  loving  wife — and  the  father  his  child — 
and  the  brother  his  sister — and  the  son  his  mother — and  hastily 
buckling  on  their  armour,  had  hurried  to  the  battle  field,  to 
mingle  in  the  deadly  strife,  and  pour  Out  their  blood  beneath  the 
towering  eagles  of  the  pride  of  Anahuac.  But  it  was  all  in 
vain — they  fought  well  and  long,  but  they  were  opposed  by 
troops  long  inured  to  victory;  the  stubborn  and  self-willed 
Anglo-Saxon  was  there,  who  would  rather  die  than  yield,  and 
the  tri-colored  flag  of  Castile  was  doomed  to  come  down  before 
the  conquering  march  of  the  stars  and  stripes. 

The  complete  rout  of  the  Mexican  army,  and  its  disorderly 
and  precipitate  flight  towards  Jalapa,  was  an  index  of  the 
speedy  approach  of  that  period,  when  the  daring  and  impetuous 
sons  of  the  north,  the  " Mericanos  de  los  Estadis  Unides" 
should  repose  upon  their  well-earned  laurels  in  the  princely 
halls  of  the  capital  of  Spanish  America,  the  proud  and  impe 
rial  city  of  the  Aztecs.  The  decisive  and  brilliant  victory  of 
Cerro  Gordo  was  crowned  with  the  taking,  as  prisoners  of 
war,  of  five  general  officers,  several  of  whom  were  of  great 
distinction,  viz:  Pinson,  Jarrero,  La  Vega,  Noriega,  and 
Obando;  a  sixth,  General  Vasquez,  was  killed  in  defending  the 


64 

battery  tower,  in  the  rear  of  the  whole  Mexican  army,  the 
capture  of  which  contributed  so  largely  to  the  final  and  success 
ful  consummation  of  the  glorious  results  of  the  day, 

General  Twiggs'  division,  accompanied  by  General  Shields' 
(now  Colonel  Baker's)  brigade,  continued  the  pursuit  of  the 
flying  enemy,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  18th,  till  they  were 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  city  of  Jalapa,  when  it  was  found 
nocessary,  after  the  excessive  fatigues  and  privations  of  two 
days'  hard  fighting  and  marching,  to  halt  the  exhausted  and 
almost  famished  troops,  for  the  night,  and  permit  them  to  repose 
and  refresh  themselves  before  entering  the  city,  many  of  the 
officers  having  scarcely  been  out  of  their  saddle  for  the  last 
forty-eight  hours. 

It  was  originally  intended  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  that 
Twiggs'  division  should  reach  the  national  road  above;  in  time 
to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  routed  forces;  but  it  appears  that 
Santa  Anna,  with  Generals  Canalizo  and  Almonte,  anticipating 
the  results  of  the  day,  had  escaped  by  the  main  road,  with  some 
six  or  eight  thousand  men,  some  considerable  time  before  the 
heights  of  Cerro  Gordo  were  carried.  But  notwithstanding 
the  start  they  had  gotten,  yet  the  swift-footed  coursers  ofHar- 
ney's  dragoons  soon  carne  upon  them  like  a  gathering  storm, 
bearing  upon  its  wings  the  missiles  of  death,  scattering  de 
struction  and  dismay  far  and  wide  through  their  disorganized 
ranks  ;  giving  Santa  Anna  and  his  mule  a  hard  race,  and  would, 
in  all  probability,  have  captured  them  both,  but  for  the  well- 
known  prudence  which  is  generally  observed,  on  such  occa 
sions,  by  this  "Napoleon  of  the  South,"  in  always  being  ahead 
of  his  men  in  ^retreat. 

"  And  there  lay  the  steed  with  his  nostril  all  wide, 
But  through  it  there  rolled  not  the  breath  of  his  pride: 
And  the  foam  of  his  gasping  lav  white  on  the  turf, 
And  cold  as  the  spray  of  the  rock-beating  surf. 

And  there  lay  the  rider,  distorted  and  pale, 
With  the  dew  on  his  brow  und  the  rust  on  his  mail; 
And  the  tents  were  all  silent,  the  banners  alone, 
The  lances  unlifted,  the  trumpet  unblown." 

^ 

CHAPTER  VII.  * 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  official  report  of  Major 
General  Patterson  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  dated,  Jalapa, 
26th  April,  1847 : — "After  the  action  of  the  18th,  as  soon  as  the 


IN  MEXICO.  65 

dragoons  effected  a  junction  with  the  main  body  of  the  army 
upon  the  Jalapa  road,  in  obedience  to  the  instructions  received 
on  the  field  from  Major  General  Scott,  I  moved  with  them  -as 
rapidly  as  possible  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  At  Coral  Falso, 
overtaking  Brigadier  General  Twiggs,  I  directed  him  to  follow 
on  with  his  division,  part  of  which  w.as  returning.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  I  arrived  at  El  Encerro,  where  the  exhausted  state  of 
the  cavalry  horsed  compelled  me  to  remain  for  the  night.  Capt. 
Blake,  with -a  squadron  of  dragoons,  continued  the  pursuit  for 
some  miles,  and  returned  with  several  prisoners..  The  2d 
dragoons,  under  Major  Bcall,  and  a  company  of  the  first  dra 
goons,  under  Captain  Kearney,  exhibited  great  activity  and 
zeal  in  the  pursuit,  which  was  very  severe  on  both  horses  and 
men.  Colonel  Baker  had  advanced  nea^'  Encerro,  with  a  small 
portion  of  Shields'  brigade,  some  time  previous  to  my  arrival, 
but  had  retired  when  the  battery  of  the  2d  division  of  regulars 
was  recalled.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  leaving  Brigadier 
General  Twiggs  in  command  of  the  infantry  and  artillery,  I 
moved  on  with  the  dragoons,  and  entered  Jalapa  with  a  deputa 
tion  from  its  authorities,  who  had  come  out  to  implore  protection 
for  the  inhabitants  of  the  c/ity." 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  city  of  Jalapa  was  entered  and  taken 
possession  of  by  a  detachment  (of  our  troops,  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th,  although  the  general  rout  and  retreat  from 
Cerro  Gordo  did  not  take  place  till  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  18th,  a  distance  of  nearly  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
city.  The  citizens  offered  no  resistance  to  the  advance  of  our 
army,  although  the  city  is  well  adapted  to  the  advantages  of 
military  defences,  and  the  citizens  alone,  had  they  rallied  to  the 
standard  of  their  country,  might  have  formed  a  force  of  sufficient 
strength,  with  the  advantages  of  position,  ta  Imve  made  a  suc 
cessful  stand  against  almost  any  force.  And  besides,  it  was  a 
most  admirable  point  for  their  routed  army  to  have  fallen  back 
upon,  and  rallied  its  disorganized  columns  for  another  and  more 
desperate  stand.  But  all  these  favorable  circumstances  which 
might  have  been  seized  upon  and  turned  to  advantage  by  a  more 
vigorous  and  energetic  foe,  were  permitted  to  pass  by,  unim 
proved,  while  the  United  States  army  was  allowed  to  enter  the 
gates  and  take  peaceable  and  permanent  possession  of  one  of 
the  finest,  healthiest  and  most  eligible  cities  of  the  republic. 

Our  army  was  now  beyond  the  reach  of  the  deadly  influence 
of  the  poisonous  and  pestilential  malaria  of  the  tierra  caliente, 
and  the  Simoon  blasts  that  sweep,  as  with  the  besom  of  death, 
the  sickly  coasts  of  Vera  Cruz,  before  which  our  strong  battal 
ions  would  have  melted  away  like  snow-flakes  upon  the  river. 


66 

It  is  said  that  the  Mexicans  depended  more  for  victory  upon  the 
wasting  influence  of  their  climate  upon  our  uninitiated  troops, 
than  they  did  upon  the  power  and  subduing  force  of  their  arms  ; 
and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  it  was  the  intention  of  Santa  Anna, 
in  making  the  decided  stand  which  he  did  at  Cerro  Gordo,  to 
drive  our  arrny  back  upon  the  coast,  and  keep  them  hemmed  in 
there  until  the  vomito  had  spent  its  fury  among  our  ranks,  and 
accomplished  what  their  heaviest  artillery  could  never  effect. 
The  following  extract  from  the  official  report  of  General  Scott 
goes  far  to  show  the  important  results  which  occurred  to  our 
army  on  the  victory  of  Cerro  Gordo,  and  the  occupation,  by  our 
troops,  of  the  city  of  Julapa : — "  The  moment  the  fate  of  the  day 
was  decided,  the  cavalry,  and  Taylor's  and  Wall's  field  batte 
ries,  were  pushed  on  towards  Jalapa,  in  advance  of  the  pursuing 
columns  of  infantry.  Twiggs'  division  and  the  brigade  of 
Shields,  (now  under  Colonel  Baker,)  and  Major  General  Pat 
terson,  was  sent  to  take  command  of  them.  In  the  hot  pursuit, 
many  Mexicans  were  captured  or  slain,  before  our  men  and 
horses  were  exhausted  by  heat  and  distance.  The  rout  proves 
to  have  been  complete,  the  retreating  army,  except  a  small 
body  of  cavalry,  being  dispersed  and  utterly  disorganized.  The 
immediate  consequences  have  been,  our  possession  of  this  im 
portant  city,  the  abandonment  of  the  works  and  artillery  of  La 
Hoya,  the  next  formidable  pass  between  Vera  Cruz  and  the 
capital,  and  the  prompt  occupation,  by  Worth's  division,  of  the 
fortress  of  Perote,  (second  only  to  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,)  with  its 
extensive  armament  of  sixty  guns  and  mortars,  and  its  large 
supplies  of  material." 

After  a  sufficient  garrison  had  been  stationed  in  the  city  for 
its  protection,  and  the  citizens  and  others  placed  under  martial 
law,  the  main  body  of  the  army  moved  on  three  miles  beyond 
the  city,  and  encamped  on  a  small  prairie  surrounded  by  a  strong 
stone  wall,  and  near  the  green  banks  of  a  most  beautiful  stream 
of  clear  cold  water.  This  stream  is  large  enough  for  the  pur 
poses  of  machinery,  and  on  it,  near  our  camp,  was  a  very  fine 
cotton  factory,  built  of  stone,  and  somewhat  differently  con 
structed  from  what  houses  usually  are  in  that,  country,  and  the 
whole  exterior  seemed  to  have  been  gotten  up  and  finished  in  a 
more  modern  style  of  architecture  than  Mexican  houses  gen 
erally;  but  the  whole  secret  was  clear  enough,  when  I  learned 
that  it  was  the  result  of  Yankee  ingenuity,  and  that  it  was  built, 
owned  and  worked  by  a  son  of  "the  land  of  steady  habits." 

The  city  of  Jalapa  is  about  twice  as  large  as  Vera  Cruz, 
and  is  constructed  more  in  the  style  of  American  cities  than 
any  other  that  I  saw  in  Mexico.  The  houses  have  slanting 


IN  MEXICO.  67 

roofs,  and  are  generally  covered  with  tile,  while  the  houses  of 
till  the  other  towns  and  cities  that  I  saw  had  flat  roofs,  com 
posed  of  brick  and  mortar,  many  of  them  with  parapet  walls, 
and  loop-holes  for  musketry.  The  windows  are  of  various 
sizes,  from  uncommonly  small  to  uncommonly  large,  some  of 
them  resembling  embrasures  for  cannon,  in  the  walls  of  a 
bastion  fort,  and  are  strongly  grated  with  iron  bars.  The 
walls  of  the  houses  are  generally  about  four  feet  thick,  and  the 
floors  are  made  ef  large  bricks,  about  eighteen  inches  square : 
some  of  the  finer  residences  have  floors  of  square  blocks  of 
marble  or  stone,  which  are  quite  neat  and  durable.  The  win 
dow  sills  are  supported  by  iron  bars,  which  protrude  about  two 
feet  over  the  street;  these  are  filled  with  parallel  rows  of  flower 
pots,  with  flowers  of  every  hue,  in  full  bloom  during  the  whole 
year;  these  are  attended  by  the  ladies  of  the  family,  who  spend 
much  of  their  time  in  the  windows  looking  out  into  the  streets  ; 
I  have  seen  trees  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  high  growing  in  these 
flower  pots  on  the  window-sill  of  the  second  and  third  story. 
The  city  of  Jalapa  is  not  a  walled  town,  neither  is  it  so  regu 
larly  laid  out,  as  Vera  Cruz  ;  (he  streets  are  conveniently  broad 
and  paved  with  stone,  crossing  each  other,  not  at  right  angles, 
but  in  every  possible  form  and  direction.  Its  location  com 
mences  in  a  low  level  plain,  and  extends  up  the  side  of  a  tole 
rably  steep  hill,  while  its  position  is  most  romantic  indeed, 
being  surrounded  on  all  sides,  but  more  particularly  on  the 
west,  with  the  grandest  and  most  picturesque  mountain  scenery 
that  the  world  can  afford ;  while  just  beyond  the  smaller  moun 
tains,  and  in  full  view  of  the  city,  arises  the  snowy  crest  of 
Orizabo,  with  its  virgin  cone  bathed  in  the  clouds  of  heaven. 
It  is  said  to  be  about  twenty  miles  from  the  city,  but,  when 
viewed  from  some  elevated  position,  does  not  appear  to  be  more 
than  a  stone's  cast.  The  market  women  procure  from  this 
mountain,  snow,  mixed  with  a  kind  of  fine  hail,  from  which  they 
make  their  ice  cream,  a  very  good  article  of  which  can  be  found 
in  the  market  during  the  whole  year. 

The  Cathedral  at  this  place  is  a  splendid  and  magnificent 
structure,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  church  that  was 
built  by  Cortez  in  Mexico,  and  if  such  be  the  fact,  it  must  be 
rather  an  ancient  edifice.  The  painting  and  statuary  alone  are 
of  the  richest  and  most  costly  style,  and  must  be  of  immense 
value,  apart  from  the  gold  and  silver  vessels  and  images  which 
decorate  the  whole  interior  of  the  building.  The  floor  is  corn- 
posed  of  square  blocks  of  the  finest  marble,  besides  a  large 
marble  vase  or  fount,  containing  the  Santa  Aqua,  (holy  water,) 
which  is  placed  at  the  entrance  of  the  inner  temple,  where 


68  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

each  one,  as  he  enters,  dips  the  fore  finger  of  the  right  hand, 
and  crosses  himself.  The  chandeliers  of  this  church  are  the 
most  costly,  brilliant  and  beautiful  that  I  saw  in  all  Mexico; 
they  appeared  to  be  made  principally  of  cut  glass,  diamonds, 
and  precious  metals,  which  made  them  so  bright  and  dazzling 
that  it  was  painful  to  the  sight  to  look  at  them.  It  is  said  by 
travellers  and  historians  that  the  city  of  .Talapa  contains  more 
beautiful  women,  according  to  the  population,  than  any  other 
city  in  the  republic;  and  from  the  result  of  my  own  observa 
tions,  which  were  made  during  -a  residence  of  two  weeks,  I 
should  not  be  disposed  to  differ  from  those  who  are  inclined  to 
consider  this  place  as  the  grand  emporium  of  Mexican  beauty 
and  intelligence.  I  think  I  saw  some  as  handsome,  richly 
dressed,  and  fashionable  young  ladies  here  as  I  ever  saw  any 
where;  and  yet  there  is  a  kind  of  indescribable  spirituality,  an 
ethereal  embodiment  of  all  that  man  has  learned  to  love  and 
admire,  about  their  beauty,  which  beggars  all  description,  and 
defies  every  attempt  at  transferring  any  just  conceptions  of  it 
to  paper.  To  feel  it  in  all  its  force,  you  must  see  it  in  its  un 
sullied  brightness,  basking  beneath  the  genial  sky  of  its  own 
soft  and  sunny  clime  ;  you  must  look  upon,  and  feel,  the  mild 
subduing  beams  that  burn  and  glow  in  a  dark  and  liquid  eye — 
the  vestal  fires  of  a  warm  and  generous  heart — the  dawning 
twilight  of  a  soul  formed  for  love.  The  grand  secret  of  their 
beauty  lies  in  the  eye,  the  voice,  and  the  countenance  ;  and  such 
is  its  character  that  you  cannot  compare  it  to  the  brilliant 
glances,  and  soul-subduing  charms  of  our  own  Southern  belles  ; 
it  has  its  own  peculiar  characteristics,  and  seems  to  stand  alone 
in  the  pround  peculiarities  of  its  own  inimitable  style. 

When  you  meet  a  Mexican  lady  of  taste  and  refinement, 
although  you  have  never  seen  her  before,  and  may  never  ex 
pect  to  again,  yet  there  is  something  about  her  that  convinces 
you  that  she  is  your  friend;  and  when  she  addresses  you,  you 
feel  that  every  feature,  eye,  lip,  countenance,  soul,  and  all  are 
speaking;  and  when  she  becomes  excited  or  interested  with 
either  the  subject  or  the  object,  it  is  delightful  to  see  her  with 
flashing  eye  lit  up  to  seraphic  brightness,  her  whole  countenance 
beaming  with  a  heavenly  smile,  and  her  tiny  hands  extended 
with  all  the  impassioned  gesticulations  of  an  actor.  And  then 
the  voice!  oh,  the  poetry  of  music,  the  combination  of  sweet 
sounds  that  lurk  in  that  soft  but  thrilling  voice  !  to  hear  it  once, 
you  would  wish  to  linger  for  ever  within  its  seductive  influence  ; 
it  is  like  the  breaking  in  upon  the  soul  of  the  expiring  echo  of 
some  stray  notes  from  the  well-tuned  harps  of  angel  choirs. 
Their  figures  are  not  always  models  of  symmetry,  nor  their 


IN  MEXICO.  69 

features,  in  every  instance,  regular  or  well-formed ;  their  hands 
are  small  and  beautiful,  and  so  are  their  feet ;  they  wear  silk 
stockings,  and  satin  or  morocco  slippers  of  the  finest  quality; 
the  step  of  the  higher  classes  is  rather  slow  and  measured,  but 
their  carriage  is  dignified  and  erect,  'and  their  gait  easy  and 
graceful.  Their  dress  is  sometimes  plain  and  neat,  but  most 
generally  it  is  rich  and  gaudy  in  the  extreme,  very  often  costing 
as  much  as  several  thousand  dollars ;  they  wear  no  bonnets, 
nor  sleeves  in  their  dresses,  but  cover  their  heads  and  arms 
with  a  rich  embroidered  silk  shawl,  which  extends  over  the 
shoulders  and  almost  down  to  the  ground,  while  the  face  is 
protected  from  the  sun  by  a  rich  laced  .parasol,  or  a  large  fan, 
the  latter  of  which  they  use  on  almost  all  occasions.  These 
observations  have-,been  made,  more  particularly,  with  reference 
to  the  ladies  of  Jalapa,  although  there  every  where  prevails  a 
striking  similarity  between  the  fair  portion  of  the  population,  a 
kind  of  national  trait,  by  which  a  Mexican  lady  might  be  known 
in  any  part  of  the  world;  yet  my  observations  of  female  beauty 
and  character  at  Jalapa  were  by  no  means  so  minute  or  exten 
sive  as  they  were  at  Puebla  and  tne  city  of  Mexico,  consequently 
I  shall  reserve  for  another  portion  of  this  work,  a  fuller  and 
more  extensive  notice  of  the  appearance,  dress,  manners  and 
customs  of  the  different  classes  of  Mexican  ladies. 

The  city  of  Jalapa  is  situated  on-the  confines  of  the  tierra 
templada  (table  land,)  about  twenty-one  miles  from  Plan  del  Rio, 
which  terminates  the  region  of  the  tierra  calientes  (hot  coun 
try)  and  is  about,  sixty-five  miles  from  Vera  Cruz  Its  position 
is  somewhat  elevated,  and  the  climate  salubrious  and  healthy, 
while  the  surrounding  country  is  quite  fertile  and  productive, 
and  appears  to  be  in  quite  an  improved  state  of  cultivation  for 
that  country. 

Our  whole  army,  excepting  Worth's  division,  encamped  near 
this  city  for  two  weeks,  during  which  time  we  suffered  very 
much  from  disease  andjponstant  exposure  to  heavy  rains,  as  wo 
were  entirely  without  tents,  and  the  rainy  season  just  setting  in. 
An  order  was  read  at  dress  parade  requiring  us  to  build  a  kind 
of  booth  or  bush  arbor,  one  for  every  six  .men,  which,  by 
spreading  our  blankets  and  extra  clothes  over  them,  served  as 
a  partial  protection  to  the  sick  against  the  incessant  showers 
that  poured  down  upon  us  almost  every  afternoon  and  night, 
while  the  diarrhoea  and  measles  were  making  frightful  ravages 
amongst  us.  The  cause  of  our  short  sojourn  at  this  place  was, 
to  send  back  a  train  of  wagons  to  Vera  Cruz  for  a  supply  of 
commissary's  stores,  and -supplies  generally,  which  was  now 
found  to  be  too  short  to  enable  us  to  reach  Puebla  without 


70 

want,  as  thatrcity  was  designed  as  our  next  point  of  destination. 
Worth  was  already  at  Perote,  some  two  days  march  in  our 
advance,  while  he  had  pushed  on  a  portion  of  his  command  as 
.  far  as  Tepeyahualco,  about  eighteen  miles  beyond  his  present 
position,  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  and  procuring  sup 
plies  for  the  balance  of  the  army,  which  he  found  it  somewhat 
difficult  to  procure  at  Perote.  The  return  train  from  Vera  Cruz 
arrived  at  our  camp  at  Jalapa  on  the  evening  of  the  5th,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  May  we  were  put  under  marching 
orders,  and  were  on  our  way  towards  the  capital  at  quite  an 
early  hour. 

The  Georgia  and  Alabama,  together  with  several  other  re 
giments  belonging  to  the  volunteer  service,  whose  terms  of 
enlistment  had  expired,  were  discharged  at  this  place  and  sent 
home.  They  were  almost  in  ecstacies  of  joy,  and  left  with 
loud  shouts  and  huzzas  for  homes  and  friends,  but  many  of  them 
manifested  a  good  deal  of  feeling  at  parting  with  their  comrades 
in  arms,  and  shed  tears  on  taking  their  .final  leave  of  them,  as 
they  knew  that  many  of  those  they  were  leaving  behind  would 
never  live  to  enjoy  the  privilege  which  they  then  anticipated. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  first  clay's  march  from  Jalapa  led 
over  a  very  rough  and  winding  road ;  it  was  up  hill  all  the  way, 
and  in  some  places  so  steep  as  to  be  almost  impassable  with 
wagons.  At  about  11  o'clock  we  reached  La  Hoya,  near 
which  is  the  celebrated  "  Black  Pass,"  or,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  the  "Nine  Mile  Pass."  This  place  had  been  strongly 
fortified,  and  the  position  was  naturally  as  strong  and  eligible  a 
one  as  that  of  CerroGordo,  and  had  been  fortified  with  almost 
as  much  care.  Two  steep  and  precipitous  mountains  rise  up 
suddenly  on  each  side  of  the  road,  OQ  the  top  of  whose  craggy 
heights  the  Mexicans  had  thrown  up  their  works  and  planted 
their  cannon.  This  was  no  doubt  intended  by  Santa  Anna  as 
a  favorable  position  to  fall  back  upon  and  rally  his  forces  for  a 
more  desperate  conflict,  should  he  be  ,so  unfortunate  as  to  be 
routed  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  no  place  could  have  been  better 
adapted  to  such  a  purpose,  for  with  the  advantages  of  the  works 
and  artillery  which  they  possessed,  an  army  of  five  thousand 
men  could  have  successfully  disputed  the  passage  against  thirty 
thousand,  unless  the  position  could  have  been  turned  by  flank 
ing,  and  my  impression  is  that  such  a  movement  as  that  could 
not  have  been  effected.  Every  tree  and  shrub  had  been  cut 
from  the  sides  of  the  mountains,  which  wholly  exposed  the  road 
for  near  a  mile  to  the  deadly  cross  tires  of  both  artillery  and 
musketry,  without  any  chance  of  returning  the  fire,  scaling  the 
heights,  or  otherwise  seriously  annoying  the  hidden  foe. 


IN  MEXICO.  71 

The  works  at  this  pass  could  not  have  been  turned,  even  if 
they  had  been  tolerably  well  defended,  without  an  immense  loss 
to  the  assaulting  force.  The  hills  and  mountains  appeared  to  be 
composed  of  a  kind  of  volcanic  formation  which  had  been 
thrown  up  into  huge  masses  by  some  mighty  convulsion  of 
nature,  and  they  were  covered  with  a  growth  of  pine  timber 
quite  large  for  that  country,  but  which  had  been  cut  away  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  breast-works ;  and  to  expose  the  position 
of  the  advancing  foe,  and  from  every  rock  and  stump  the  ene 
my's  sharp-shooters  could  have  concealed  themselves  in  perfect 
safety,  and  poured  destruction  into  our  ranks  from  every  side. 
But  the  Mexican  troops  were  so  cut  up,  and  their  rout  so  com 
plete  at  Cerro  Gordo,  that  Santa  Anna  could  not,  or  did  not, 
make  the  effort  to  rally  his  scattered  and  panic-stricken  forces 
at  this  point;  and  the  American  army  was  allowed  to  pass  this 
modern  Thermopylae  unmolested.  I  saw  large  numbers  of 
cannon  lying  in  the  road,  which  had  been  dismounted  by 
Worth's  advance  'and  rolled  down  the  hill. 

Large  portions  of  the  road  over  which  we  marched  on  this 
day,  had  been  paved  with  round  stones,  but  the  pavement  had 
been  torn  up  and  the  stones  thrown  in  heaps,  in  order  to  impede 
the  progress  of  opposing  armies  during  the  recent  revolutions 
which  almost  annually  harrass  and  distract  that  country.  The 
ascent  is  so  steep  and  rapid,  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
winding  and  tortuous  nature  of  the  road,  we  might  have  looked 
back  from  our  camp  at  night  and  have  seen  the  point  that  we 
had  left  in  the  morning,  in  the  valley  almost  beneath  our  feet. 
The  abrupt  nature  of  this  ascent  can  be  better  conceived  when 
we  learn  that  Perote  is  near  five  thousand  feet  higher  than 
Jalapa,  though  only  thirty  miles  from  it.  We  passed,  on  this 
day's  march,  many  fine  and  well  cultivated  farms,  including 
large  fields  ot  corn,  b^ans,  wheat,  and  barley,  which  appeared 
to  be  the  principal  productions  of  that  section  of  country. 
These  fields  are  cultivated  by  large  numbers  of  native  Mexican 
slaves,  who  are  overlooked  by  a  driver,  \vhopassesthroughthe 
field  on  horseback,  with  a  large  whip  in  his  hand,  and  does  not 
hesitate  to  administer  corporeal  punishment  with  a  liberal  hand, 
when  he  may  deem  it  necessary.  These  assertions  might 
rather  be  calculated  to  disturb  the  equanimity  of  the  "Free 
Soil"  party  in  this  country,  but  they  are,  nevertheless,  true. 
Slavery,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  does  exist  in  Mexico,  but 
on  somewhat  a  different  principle  to  what  it  does  in  this  coun 
try.  A  tenant  or  common  laborer  becomes  indebted  to  the 
proprietor  of  the  estate,  and  is  unable  to  pay;  this  debt  goes  on 
increasing  from  year  to  year,  perhaps  by  a  course  of  fradulent 


72  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

condnct  on  the  part  ot  the  proprietor,  and  the  consequence  is, 
that  the  unfortunate  Peon  and  his  family  belong  to  this  landed 
proprietor  until  the  debt  is  liquidated,  which  frequently  does  not 
happen  during  the  natural  life  of  the  slave,  and  in  that  case,  the 
bondage  is  transmitted  from  sire  to  son  for  two  and  three  gene 
rations.  I  saw  on  this  route,  the  first  log  house  with  a  plank 
floor  and  shingle  roof,  that  I  had  seen  since  I  left  the  shores  of 
my  native  land;  the  last  one  of  the  kind  which  I  remember  to 
have  seen  was  on  a  small  island  near  the  light-house  off  the  bar 
at  Mobile,  and  on  seeing  this,  the  latter  instantly  occurred  to  rny 
mind.  The  country  between  Jalapa  and  Perote  appeared  to 
be  more  fertile  and  heavier  timbered,  than  any  I  had  seen  before 
since  leaving  the  coast ;  some  of  the  trees,  which  appeared  to 
be  a  small  species  of  the  live  oak,  were  seen  growing  here  to 
quite  a  respectable  size,  though  nothing  like  so  large  as  in  this 
country,  The  high  hills  and  mountains  appeared  to  be  princi 
pally  covered  with  a  stunted  growth  of  pines,  with  an  occasional 
cluster  of  American  aloe  Or  prickley  pear,  of  which  there  are 
a  thousand  and  one  species  in  Mexico. 

We  were  hurried  on  through  this  long  and  hot  day's  march, 
tottering  on  swoolen  and  aching  limbs  beneath  our  baggage 
and  accoutrements,  until  some  time  after  dark,  when  we  were 
halted  for  the  night  at  the  little  town  of  Las  Vigas,  about 
twelve  miles  from  Perote,  where  both  men  and  beast  sunk 
down  exhausted  upon  the  ground,  almost  the  instant  they  were 
stopped,  many  of  the  latter  to  rise  no  more,  as  the  ground  was 
almost  covered  the  next  morning  with  dead  mules  and  horses. 
Many  of  the  men,  completely  worn  out  with  fatigue,  sunk  down 
by  the  way-side  and  slept  all  night,  and  found  their  way  to 
camp  next  morning,  notwithstanding  the  constant  warning  that 
we  received  that  whoever  fell  behind  the  main  body  of  the 
army  might  count  on  certain  death  at  the  hands  of  the  prowling 
bands  of  Guerrillas  that  more  particularly  infest  that  section  of 
country,  and  were  said  to  be  constantly  hanging  upon  our  rear 
during  the  day,  and  watching  our  camp  during  the  night,  for 
the  purpose  of  cutting  of  ail  stragglers  from  the  immediate 
ranks.  We  found  the  dead  bodies  of  several  soldiers  who  had 
been  murdered  in  this  way,  and  after  having  their  throats  cut, 
and  being  robbed  and  stripped,  were  left  by  the  way-side,  a 
prey  to  wild  beasts,  and  also  as  a  warning  to  teach  us  what 
kind  of  an  enemy  we  had  to  deal  with. 

Notwithstanding  the  excessive  heat  of  the  day,  yet  as  soon 
as  the  sun  went  down,  the  air  suddenly  became  cold  and  damp, 
and  our  clothes  being  perfectly  saturated  with  perspiration,  by 
the  time  we  arrived  in  camp  we  were  all  perfectly  chilled,  and 


IJ*  MEXICO.  73 

shivering  in  the  cold  piercing  winds  that  blow  in  that  elevated 
region  from  the  neighboring  snow-mountains.  So  sudden  was 
the  transition  from  heat  to  cold,  that  it  was  altogether  painful 
to  bear  it,  and  we  all  hastened  as  quick  as  we  could  to  build 
large  fires  to  warm  ourselves.  Many  of  the  men  were  actu 
ally  unable  to  leave  the  position  they  took  when  the  line  of 
march  was  first  halted,  by  reason  of  the  excessive  heat  and 
fatigues  of  the  day,  and  then  becoming  suddenly  chilled,  which 
had  such  an  effect  upon  their  swollen  and  aching  limbs  as 
almost  totally  to  paralizo  them.  But  as  many  as  were  able  to 
move  at  all,  with  any  degree  of  briskness,  were  soon  upon  the 
move,  and  scattered  in  different  parties  over  the  town,  collecting 
all  the  loose  posts,  planks  and  boards,  that  were  within  their 
reach,  from  which  they  built  large  camp  fires  in  every  direc 
tion,  regardless  of  various  hints  from  the  citizens  that  such 
things  were  not  made  for  the  purposes  of  fuel.  In  a  few 
moments  the  whole  village  seemed  to  be  in  a  blaze,  lighted  up 
by  the  red  glare  that  flashed  from  an  hundred  camp  fires. 
Many  of  the  citizens  came  round  to  the  officers  and  complained 
that  the  soldiers  were  using  the  material  of  their  fences  and 
stables  and  burning  it  for  firo  wood;  but  they  seeing  that  the 
men  were  prompted  by  necessity,  as  no  other  fuel  could  be 
obtained,  no  authority  was  interposed  to  restrain  them,  and  tho 
Mexicans  were  probably  indemnified  for  their  losses,  if,  in 
reality,  they  sustained  any.  This  town,  consisting  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  houses,  was  afterwards  burned  by  Captain 
Walker,  of  tho  Texas  Rangers,  as  it  was  found  to  be  used  as 
the  general  head  quarters  and  rendezvous  of  all  the  guerrilla 
forces  in  that  section  of  country. 

Being  rather  short  of  rations,  and  desirous  of  a  change, 
several  parties  of  soldiers  dispersed  themselves  through  tho 
town  to  see  if  they  could  not  procure  some  of  the  good  things 
of  life  in  the  shape  of  butter,  eggs,  or  mutton,  but  not  a  particle 
of  any  could  be  had  either  for  love  or  money;  to  all  of  our 
interrogations  they  gave  the  same  answer,  which  was  invariably 
"no  hai,  no  hai,"  accompanied  by  a  slow  perpendicular  shako 
of  the  fore  finger,  the  meaning  of  which  we  all  very  well 
understood  as  meaning  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  had  there 
which  could  raise  the  spirits  of  a  hungry  man.  I  have  often 
been  astonished  at  the  small  quantity  of  food  which  the  Mexi 
cans  generally  subsisted  on;  we  have  often  passed  villages  o1 
five  hundred  or  a  thousand  inhabitants,  which  were  entirely 
destitute  of  any  visible  means  of  supporting  one  half  of  tha 
number ;  and  we  had  the  most  ample  means  of  finding  out 
their  resources  of  sustenance,  for  we  were  certain  to  institutf 
4 


74  8COTTfS  CAMPAIGN 

the  strictest  inquiry,  and  even  search,  for  something  to  eat,  in 
every  town  and  village  we  passed.  Pulque,  chili-soup,  and 
pandamice,  with  now  and  then  a  small  piece  of  mutton  boiled 
to  a  jelly,  seemed  to  be  the  principal  diet ;  and  we  frequently 
thought  ourselves  most  happy  if  we  could,  by  any  means,  pur 
chase,  at  a  most  exhorbitant  price,  a  small  portion  of  any  of 
these  delicacies  which  are  so  gratifying  to  the  appetite  of  a 
hungry  soldier.  I  have  frequently  marched  all  day  without  any 
other  sustenance  than  a  little  muddy  brackish  water  sweetened 
with  palonci,  and  a  few  ounces  of  pilot  bread,  and  on  arriving 
at  camp  at  night,  I  would  be  so  fatigued  and  exhausted  that  I 
was  totally  unable  to  cook  my  scanty  supper,  and  sleep  predom 
inating  over  hunger,  I  would  forget  the  painful  cravings  of  the 
one,  while  lost  to  all  sense  in  the  luxurious  arms  of  the  other; 
a  man  may,  in  some  instances,  be  too  tired  to  eat,  but  it  is  a 
rare  instance  to  find  one  that  is  too  hungry  to  sleep. 

The  town  of  Las  Vigas  contains  quite  a  fine  church  for 
a  place  of  so  small  a  population ;  it  perhaps  cost  more  than 
every  other  building  in  the  place,  with  their  contents.  The 
houses  (it  houses  they  can  be  called)  presented  a  very 
picturesque  and  uniform  appearance,  being  built  mostly  ot 
erect  posts  drove  in  the  ground  and  lashed  together  with  vines, 
which  supported  a  roof  composed  of  flag  or  palm  leaves  tied 
together  with  strings  made  from  the  bark  of  the  pulque  plant. 
The  earliest  dawn  of  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  May  (the 
anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto)  found  our  camp  all  in 
motion,  and  sounding  the  busy  notes  of  preparation  for  the  start. 
while  crowds  of  lean,  half-clad  women  and  children  were 
already  hurrying  to  and  fro  through  the  quarters,  picking  up 
grains  of  corn  and  scraps  of  meat  and  bread,  and  tattered  gar 
ments  and  worn  out  shoes  which  the  soldiers  had  thrown  away; 
and  even  the  scattering  blades  of  straw  and  fodder  that  were 
left  about  the  wagon-yard  were  all  taken  care  of  and  husbanded 
as  though  they  were  of  the  most  intrinsic  value.  Whether 
these  poor  crcntures  were  driven  to  this  penurious  course  of 
proceeding  by  sheer  necessity,  or  from  a  spirit  of  innate 
economy,  is  a  question  which  I  am  not  just  now  able  to  deter 
mine  ;  most  probably,  though,  it  was  the  former. 

About  the  time  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  gilded  the  distant 
tops  of  the  mountains,  our  long  lines  of  bristling  bayonets 
might  have  been  seen  extending  themselves  like  the  coils  of 
some  huge  serpent  far  along  the  road  towards  the  city  of  Perote, 
which  was  now  some  twelve  miles  distant.  The  general  face 
of  the  country  had  now  become  somewhat  more  level,  while 
extensive  and  well  cultivated  fields  of  corn,  wheat  and  barley, 


IN  MEXICO.  75 

skirted  the  main  road  for  many  leagues  on  both  sides,  most  of 
which,  from  its  yellow  appearance,  would  soon  be  ready  for  the 
sickle.     We  also  saw  large  bodies  of  laborers  on  the  adjacent 
farms,  who  appeared  to  be  cultivating  large  fields  of  corn  and 
peas,  also  beans,  which  are  produced  in  immense  quantities  in 
almost  all  portions  of  the  table  lands.     When  viewed  from  a 
distance  in  the  first  stages  of  its  growth,  it  has  the  appearance 
of  growing  cotton,  but  on  a  closer  examination  it  is  found  more 
to  resemble  the  English  pea,  although  there  is  nothing  of  the 
vine  about  it,  the  stalk  being  perfectly  erect,  and  growing  from 
four  to  five  feet  in  height;  these  beans,  boiled  perfectly  soft, 
form   what  is    called  frijoles,  which  constitute  the  principal 
article  of  food  among  the  lower  classes  all  over  Mexico.     In 
the  most  conspicuous  parts  oi  many  ot  these  fields  I  saw  large 
wooden  crosses  erected  on  stone  pillars,  around  which  were 
bound  wreaths  of  fresh  flowers,  which  are  said  to  be  placed 
there  every  morning  before  sun-rise  by  some  fair  and  faithful 
hand,  in  order  to  secure  the  blessings  of  heaven  upon  the 
growing  crop,  or  to  perfume  the  last  resting  place  of  some  long 
lost  friend,  who  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  assassin's  bloody  knite. 
After  crossing  many  beautiful  streams  of  water,  which  had 
heretofore  been  rather  uncommon,   we  gradually  descended 
into  the  plain  upon  which  stands  the  city  and  castle  of  Perote, 
which  we  reached  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  had 
our  quarters  assigned  us  in  some  old  barracks   on  one  of  the 
principal  streets,  and  near  the  centre  of  the  city.     One  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  extensive  plains  of  the  kind  I  ever  saw 
stretches  itself  out  on  the  side  approaching  the  city;  it  is  many 
leagues  in  extent,  without  a  hillock,  shrub,   or  rising  spot  of 
ground  to  break  the  extended  view.     From  what  information  I 
had  been  able  to  pick  up  concerning  the  city  of  Perote,  I  had  been 
led  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  situated  upon  one  of  the  most 
elevated  portions  of  the  table  lands,  perhaps  upon  the  summit 
of  some  lofty  mountain ;  and  I  heard  rr.any  others  express  the 
opinion  that  I  had  formed.     And  indeed  it  does  possess  an  ele 
vation  of  some  five  thousand  feet  higher  than  the  city  of  Jalapa, 
yet  its  immediate  location,  and  for  many  miles  around,  it  has 
all  the  appearance  of  a  low  level  plain ;  and  one  not  aware  of 
its  great  elevation  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  would  think  it 
was  situated  in  a  valley,  much  lower  than  Jalapa.     Its  first 
impressions  reminded  me  of  Alvarado,  and  is  about  the  same 
size,  perhaps  a  little  larger,  containing,  it  may  be,  as  many 
as  eight  thousand  inhabitants ;  and  its  general  appearance  is 
rather  dilapidated.     It  has,  in  the  palmier  days  of  the  republic, 
no  doubt  been  quite   an  important  town,  and  much  more 


76  SCOTT'B  CAMPAIGN 

densely  populated,  than  it  now  is.  It  is  indebted  for  most  of  its 
present  importance  to  the  celebrated  and  impregnable  castle 
which  lies  about  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  the  city  itself.  The 
walls  and  roofs  of  our  barracks  at  this  place  were  tolerably 
good,  but  the  floors  were  made  of  round  stones,  and  perfectly 
covered  with  vermin  of  the  most  loathsome  kind,  which  did  not 
fail  to  annoy  us  by  day  and  night  as  long  as  we  remained,  which 
was,  most  fortunately  for  us,  a  very  short  time. 

We  were  all  very  anxious,  after  we  had  refreshed  ourselves  a 
little,  to  have  a  tramp  over  the  city,  and  see  what  we  could 
about  this  wonderful  place,  and  inhabited,  as  we  had  learned, 
by  such  wonderful  people.  Accordingly,  after  a  most  sumptu 
ous  dinner,  consisting  of  salt  pork,  dry  crackers,  and  bad 
water,  several  of  us  set  out  to  visit  the  market,  and  take  a 
cursory  glance  at  the  place  generally;  but  when  we  arrived  at 
the  gate  that  led  into  the  court  yard  of  our  quarters,  we  were 
abruptly  halted  by  a  gruff  looking  sentinel,  who  informed  us 
very  unceremoniously  that  we  could  proceed  no  further  in  that 
direction ;  so  no  other  alternative  was  leil  us  but  to  return  to 
our  quarters,  shake  the  inhabitants  from  our  blankets,  and  enjoy 
ourselves  the  best  we  could  upon  the  rough  uneven  stone  floor, 
with  the  incessant  annoyance  of  myriads  of  fleas  and  other 
vermin  of  which  there  is  a  thousand  and  one  species  in  every 
part  of  that  country. 

We  remained  at  this  place  on  Sunday,  the  9th,  which  was 
the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Resacade  la  Palma,  and  which 
a  large  party  of  us  celebrated  in  the  castle  of  Perote,  where  so 
many  distinguished  prisoners  had  been  confined,  and  many 
executed.  Captain  Walker,  with  many  other  American  pri 
soners,  had  worn  the  trinkets  of  bondage  there,  and  even  Santa 
Anna  himself  had,  for  a  short  time,  been  incarcerated  within 
its  gloomy  dungeons.  It  is  said  that  Captain  Walker,  while  a 
prisoner  in  the  castle,  deposited  a  dime  in  a  crevice  of  his 
dismal  cell,  and  made  a  vow  that  he  would,  at  some  future  time, 
enter  those  walls  as  a  conqueror,  and  seek  the  spot  of  his 
hidden  treasure  and  take  k  away;  and  sure  enough  he  lived  to 
redeem  his  pledge.  As  General  Lane  passed  that  place  on  his 
way  to  relieve  the  garrison  at  Puebla,  under  Colonel  Chiids, 
Captain  Walker  and  his  rangers  were  with  him,  and  recollect 
ing  his  hidden  treasure,  and  his  promise  to  redeem  it,  entered 
the  dark  dungeon  of  his  former  incarnation  and  took  the  identical 
piece  of  money  from  the  identical  spot  where  he  had  placed  it 
many  years  before ;  so  it  appears  that  he  had  been  mindful  of 
the  scriptural  injunction,  and  Maid  up  his  treasure  where  moth 
and  rust  did  not  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  did  not  break 


IN  MEXICO;  77 

through  and  steal.'  But  poor  Walker,  who  had,  on  so  many 
well-fought  battle  fields,  rendered  such  essential  service  to  hia 
country,  from  the  time  ho  carried  the  express  from  Point  Isabel 
to  Fort  Brown,  up  to  tho  bloody  fight  at  which  he  sacrificed  his 
life  upon  the  altar  of  his  country's  honor,  was,  a  few  days  after 
this,  called  from  the  theatre  of  a  soldier's  perils  to  share  tho 
soldier's  bright  reward.  Captain  Samuel  H.  Walker  fell  at 
the  battle  of  Huamantla  on  the  9th  of  October,  at  the  head  of 
his  intrepid  rangers,  directing  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and 
successful  cavalry  charges  on  record.  And  almost  at  the  same 
instant  fell  his  faithful  negro  servant,  pierced  by  the  fatal  lance, 
while  fighting  by  the  side  of  his  master,  where  he  had  proved 
his  fidelity  and  courage  in  more  than  one  fierce  and  bloody 
struggle  since  the  commencement  of  the  war.  After  receiving 
the  fatal  wound  that  terminated  his  existence,  he  was  informed 
of  the  death  of  his  master,  when  he  expressed  himself  not  only 
willing  but  anxious  to  die,  as  he  had  no  desire  whatever  to 
survive  his  brave  and  intrepid,  but  kind  and  humane  master. 
General  Lane,  in  his  official  report  of  this  battle,  uses  the 
following  language  in  speaking  of  the  death  of  Captain  Walker : 
"This  victory  is  saddened  by  the  loss  of  one  of  the  most  chi- 
valric,  noble-hearted  men  that  ever  graced  the  profession  of 
arms — Captain  Samuel  H.  Walker,  of  the  mounted  riflemen. 
Foremost  in  the  advance,  he  had  routed  the  enemy,  when  he  fell 
mortally  wounded.  In  his  death,  the  service  has  met  with  a 
loss  which  cannot  easily  be  repaired." 

The  castle  ot  Perote  is  thought  to  be  almost  as  strong,  and 
built  on  nearly  as  extensive  a  scale,  as  that  of  San  Juan  de 
Ulloa  at  Vera  Cruz;  perhaps  it  would  be  equally  as  difficult  to 
reduce,  if  it  had  the  advantageous  position  possessed  by  the 
1  alter,  as  it  is  perfectly  bomb-proof,  and  its  walls  so  thick  and 
strongly  built  as  to  render  it  almost  impossible  ever  to  effect  a 
breach,  even  with  the  heaviest  artillery.  It  mounts  something 
like  one  hundred  guns  on  the  inner  walls,  besides  a  large  num 
ber  of  mortars.  The  largest  mortar  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of 
was  at  this  place ;  it  carried  a  shell  twenty-two  inches  in 
diameter.  The  whole  area  of  the  castle,  including  the  outer 
walls,  covers  a  space  of  near  five  acres  of  ground,  and  is 
almost  a  perfect  city  within  itself,  with  all  the  necessary  appur 
tenances  which  are  requisite  to  make  life  either  comfortable  or 
miserable;  including  a  church  or  chapel,  and  streets,  dwelling 
houses,  work-shops,  stores,  barracks,  stables,  and  dungeons. 
Several  of  the  latter  I  had  the  privilege  of  entering,  and  it 
caused  me  to  shudder  when  I  looked  round  upon  the  dark  and 
dismal  walls,  lighted  only  by  a  small  hole  about  eix  inches 
4* 


78 

square  in  the  farther  end,  which  only  admitted  light  enough  to 
make  the  dismal  gloom,  the  utter  desolation,  perceptible.  The 
floors  were  made  of  stones,  which  were  worn  perfectly  smooth 
from  the  prisoners  dragging  over  them,  by  day  and  night,  their 
galling  and  slavish  chains. 

The  interior,  or  business  part  of  the  fortification,  is  surrounded 
by  three  distinct  walls,  and  can  only  be  entered  by  a  single 
gate,  which  is  protected  by  a  strong  and  stupendous  draw  bridge, 
by  which  they  can  cut  off  all  communication  with  the  interior 
in  an  instant.  Between  the  middle  and  inner  wall  is  erected  a 
cross,  about  which  I  noticed  a  pile  of  human  bones,  where  the 
convicts  and  prisoners  had  been  executed;  and  the  marks  of  the 
balls  on  the  opposite  walls  where  they  had  been  shot  were  still 
distinctly  visible.  And  as  I  gazed  upon  those  bleaching  wrecks 
of  humanity,  it  occurred  to  me  that  the  bones  of  some  of  my 
own  countrymen  might  be  mouldering  in  that  mound  of  human 
skulls ;  and  then  1  felt  that  the  Mexicans  were  doubly  mine 
enemies ;  that  there  were  old  scores  to  be  blotted  out,  and  I 
longed  for  an  opportunity  of  retaliation. 

From  the  peculiar  situation  of  the  castle,  it  would  be  impos 
sible  for  an  invading  army  to  avoid  it  in  travelling  the  direct 
national  road,  as  the  tall  rugged  mountains  that  cluster  about  it, 
would  render  it  altogether  impossible  to  pass  it  by  cutting  a 
new  route  on  either  side ;  and  in  the  direct  approach  by  the  way 
of  the  road,  the  face  of  the  country  is  such  that  the  guns  might 
play  with  deadly  effect  upon  the  advancing  forces  at  the  distance 
of  two  miles.  Near  Perote,  and  on  the  left,  you  have  a  beau 
tiful  view  of  the  misty  summit  of  a  celebrated  mountain  of 
basaltic  porphyry,  which  appears  to  rise  abruptly  out  of  the 
plain  below,  and  is  distinctly  visible  from  almost  any  point  on 
the  road  between  Jalapa  and  Puebla.  It  is  called  by  the  natives 
"El  Coffre,"  which  signifies  a  chest,  and  takes  its  name  from 
the  figure  of  a  huge  rock,  which  appears  to  be  perfectly  square, 
that  rests  upon  its  summit.  The  larger  portion  of  the  popula 
tion  of  this  place  is  said  to  be  composed  of  adepts  in  crime 
and  vice  of  every  species.  Indeed,  if  I  were  to  judge  from  their 
general  appearance,  I  should  say  that  a  large  portion  of  them 
were  utterly  destitute  of  the  higher  and  more  ennobling  quali 
ties  which  often  distinguish  the  boiler  classes  which  you  will 
often  meet  with  in  other  cities  of  the  republic,  and  which  the 
Mexicans  possess,  in  many  instances,  to  as  great  a  degree  as 
any  people  on  earth.  But  with  the  citizens  of  Perote  generally, 
a  cursory  glance  of  the  most  unpretending  physiognomist  would 
not  fail  at  once  to  detect  the  lurking  expression  of  crime  and 
villainy  which  stands  out  in  bold  relief  upon  almost  every  face. 


IN  MEXICO.  79 

The  countenance  is,  almost  invariably,  downcast,  and  no  one 
dares  to  look  you  full  in  the  face,  but  hurries  past  you  with  rapid 
strides,  as  if  endeavoring  to  conceal  something,  either  in  his 
face  or  his  blanket,  which  he  seems  very  unwilling  shall  come 
to  the  light. 

The  Mexican  ladies  generally,  I  think,  are  decidedly  superior 
to  the  men,  not  only  in  dress  and  appearance,  but  in  all  the 
finer  feelings  and  ennobling  passions  of  the  human  heart. 
And  in  justice  to  them,  I  must  say  that  I  saw  one  of  the  hand 
somest  and  most  fascinating  Mexican  girls  on  the  steps  of  the 
fountain  in  the  Grand  Plaza  at  Perote,  that  ever  met  my  enrap 
tured  gaze  in  any  country.  She  was  neither  the  native  Indian, 
nor  the  pure  Castilian,  but  of  the  medium  or  mixed  blood,  with 
a  complexion  something  lighter  than  the  Creole,  and  a  figure 
as  fragile  and  sylph-like  as  the  floating  spirits  of  some  fairy 
land.  Her  features  were  perfect,  exhibiting  that  rare  combi 
nation  of  wild  and  brilliant  beauty  which  is  sometimes  found 
in  Eastern  climes,  while  her  dark  rolling  eye  shot  arrowy 
glances  ot  light  to  the  very  heart  of  the  beholder;  and  yet  she 
was  a  perfect  child  of  nature,  unconscious  of  her  own  beauty, 
and  a  model  of  uneducated  native  simplicity.  Her  dress  would 
indicate  that  she  belonged  to  the  lower  or  labouring  class ;  it 
consisted  of  only  two  garments,  a  petticoat  and  chemise,  leav 
ing  her  neck,  arms  and  bosom  bare,  or  only  partially  covered 
by  a  thin  flowing  reboza,  which  was  wrapped  about  her  head 
and  thrown  carefully  over  the  left  shoulder.  She  was  standing, 
as  I  before  remarked,  upon  the  steps  of  a  fountain,  with  a 
basket  of  fruit  on  her  arm,  and  a  small  earthen  cup  in  her  hand. 
I  approached  the  fountain  to  fill  my  canteen,  which  gave  me  a 
nearer  peep  at  this  paragon  of  beauty  and  loveliness.  I  caught 
her  eye,  and  she  smiled;  discovering  that  my  presence  was 
not  disagreeable,  and  wishing  to  cultivate  a  more  intimate 
acquaintance,  I  politely  asked  her  for  the  use  of  her  cup,  which 
she  instantly  extended  torne,  with  her  rosy  lip  wreathed  into  a 
smile,  and  a  "  se  senor,  con  much  a  gusto,"  (yes,  Sir,  with  much 
pleasure,}  pronounced  in  the  sweetest,  softest  tones  I  ever 
heard.  I  handed  back  her  cup,  and  was  turning  off  to  leave 
her,  with  an  adios  senorila,  when  she  beckoned  me  to  return, 
and  handed  me  an  orange  from  her  well-filled  basket,  I 
thanked  her  very  kindly  and  left  for  my  quarters,  and  as  I 
walked  ofif  1  distinctly  heard  her  say,  in  a  mournful  and  half 
suppressed  voice,  "pobre  soldado"  I  could  not  help  casting 
behind  me  many  side  glances  as  I  left  her.  I  never  got  sight 
of  her  again,  although  I  visited  the  spot  many  times  afterwards 
with  the  hope  that  I  might  meet  her,  but  this  pleasure  was 


80  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

denied  me.  It  has  now  been  nearly  two  years  since  the  inter 
view  above  mentioned,  yet  her  image,  with  its  every  feature,  is 
as  fresh  in  mj  memory  as  it  was  the  day  that  I  saw  her;  and  I 
verily  believe  that  if  I  were  to  meet  her  now,  I  should  instantly 
recognize  her  as  the  beautiful  market  girl  of  Perote.  She 
seemed  to  stand  alone,  a  being  of  life  and  light,  a  monument  of 
original  and  unadorned  beauty  and  loveliness,  amid  the  ruined 
wreck  of  moral  desolation  and  personal  deformity  that  sur 
rounded  her,  A  perfect  specimen  of  nature's  handiwork,  dis 
daining  to  borrow  charms  from  the  gaudy  tinsel  of  fashion,  or 
the  alluring  blandishments  of  art : 

"  A  rose  in  the  wilderness  left  on  the  stalk, 
To  tell  where  the  garden  has  been." 

I  am  aware  that  the  idea  has  been  advanced  by  travellers 
and  historians  that  the  Mexican  ladies  generally  are  not  hand 
some.  My  position  as  a  soldier  prevented  me  from  having  that 
access  to  the  circles  of  the  higher  classes  which  was  neces 
sary  in  order  to  enable  me  to  judge  correctly  of  the  beauty 
and  accomplishments  of  the  elite  and  fashionable.  But  that 
there  are  a  great  many  handsome  ladies  in  Mexico,  no  one  who 
has  travelled  extensively  there,  and  looked  at  matters  and  things 
through  a  proper  medium,  will  pretend  to  deny.  And  in  order 
to  show  that  I  am  not  the  only  one  who  has  found  beauty  and 
grace  of  no  ordinary  character,  even  among  the  lower  classes, 
1  transcribe  the  following  paragraphs  from  "Kendall's  Santa  Fe 
Expedition,"  which  ought  to  be  considered  good  authority  on 
such  subjects: — "It  was  at  Albuquerque  that  1  saw  a  perfect 
specimen  of  female  loveliness.  The  girl  was  poor,  being 
dressed  only  in  a  chemise  and  coarse  woolen  petticoat ;  yet  there 
was  an  air  of  grace,  a  charm  about  her,  that  neither  birth  nor 
fortune  can  bestow.  She  was  standing  upon  a  mud-wall,  the 
taper  fingers  of  her  right  hand  supporting  a  large  pumpkin  upon 
her  head,  while  her  left  was  gracefully  rest  ing  upon  herhip.  Her 
dark,  full,  and  lustrous  eyes,  overarched  with  brows  of  pencilled 
regularity,  and  fringed  with  lashes  of  long  and  silken  texture, 
beamed  upon  us  full  of  tenderness  and  pity,  while  an  unbidden 
tear  of  sorrow  at  our  misfbi tunes  was  coursing  down  a  cheek 
of  the  purest  and  richest  olive.  Her  beautifully  curved  lips, 
half  opened  as  if  in  pity  and  astonishment  at  a  scene  so  uncom 
mon,  disclosed  teeth  of  pearly,  dazzling  whiteness.  Innocence, 
and  the  best  feelings  of  our  nature,  were  playing  in  every  linea 
ment  of  that  lovely  face,  and  ever  and  anon,  as  some  one  of  us, 
more  unfortunate  than  the  rest,  would  limp  halting  by,  again 


IN  MEXICO.  81 

her  tears  would  gush  from  their  fountains  and  illuming  a  coun 
tenance  of  purity.     If, 


"  Chrystal  tears  from  pity's  eye 
Are  the  stars  in  heaven  high," 


some  of  them  fell  lhat  day  from  the  poor  village  girl,  drawn 
from  the  firmament  to  lighten  the  sorrows  of  those  upon  whom 
misfortune  had  laid  her  heavy  hand.  She  could  not  be  more 
than  fifteen;  yet  her  loose  and  flowing  dress,  but  half  conceal 
ing  a  bust  of  surpassing  beauty  and  loveliness,  plainly  disclosed 
that  she  was  just  entering  womanhood.  Her  figure  was  fault 
less,  and  even  the  chisel  of  Praxiteles  himself  never  modelled 
ankles  of  such  pure  and  classic  elegance.  As  the  long  and 
straggling  line  of  prisoners  passed  the  spot  upon  which  this 
lovely  form  was  standing,  sore  and  worn  down  by  long  marches, 
and  want  of  food  and  sleep,  her  rare  beauty  drew  the  eyes  of 
all  towards  her,  and  exclamations  of  wonder  were  upon  every 
lip.  She  understood  not  our  language,  and  in  the  artless  sim 
plicity  of  her  nature,  knew  not  lhat  her  singular  loveliness, 
combined  with  the  display  of  charms  her  unstudied  yet  graceful 
attitude  and  scanty  dress  had  given,  was  the  theme  of  almost 
universal  admiration.  She  beckoned  to  a  youth  among  the 
prisoners,  a  German  lad  but  little  older  than  herself,  and  pre 
sented  him  the  pumpkin  with  infinite  delicacy  and  grace;  and 
as  she  did  it,  the  exclamation  pobrecifo  was  heard  gently  falling 
from  her  lips  in  tones  of  softest  pity.  The  fairest  flowers  are 
oftencst  found  in  obscurity,  and  I  trust  my  readers  will  not 
doubt  my  sincerity  when  I  assert  that  the  prettiest  girl  I  ever 
saw  was  selling  woolen  stockings  at  twenty-five  cents  a  pair  at 
Holmes's  Hole,  Massachusetts — her  twin-sister  in  beauty  was 
standing  in  her  bare  feet  upon  a  mud-wall  in  Albuquerque,  New 
Mexico,  with  a  pumpkin  upon  her  head!  I  lingered  to  take  a 
last  look  at  this  beautiful  girl,  and  when  I  turned  from  the  spot, 
I  could  not  but  regret  that  the  lot  of  one  so  kind  hearted  and  so 
fair  had  been  cast  in  such  a  place.  There  are  faces  we  see 
in  our  journey  through  life  surpassingly  beautiful,  faces  that 
leave  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on  the  beholders,  and  hers 
was  one  of  them.  Among  the  crowds  of  beauty,  her  image 
will  stand  out  in  bold  relief,  and  not  one  of  those  who  saw 
her  on  the  day  we  passed  through  Albuquerque  will  ever  forget 
her." 


82 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  market  at  Perotc  is  very  badly  supplied,  although  the 
surrounding  country  appears  to  be  fertile  and  productive,  and  to 
some  extent  well  cultivated ;  yet  it  was  with  much  difficulty 
that  we  could  get  a  loaf  of  bread  or  a  cup  of  chocolate,  and 
even  that  could  be  procured  in  very  small  quantities  and  at 
enormous  prices.  Bananas,  plantains,  onions,  garlic,  and  chile, 
with  an  occasional  leg  of  mutton,  seemed  to  be  almost  the  only 
available  luxuries  of  the  place;  while  chickens,  eggs,  potatoes, 
and  pork,  were  entirely  out  of  the  question.  In  fact,  it  did  not 
appear  that  there  were  provision  enough  in  the  whole  city  to 
have  fed  our  army  for  twenty-four  hours.  I  should  suppose  they 
were  mainly  dependent  upon  the  country  people  for  the  common 
necessaries  of  life,  who  supply  them  daily  with  barely  a  suffi 
ciency  for  the  time  being. 

Although  we  had  many  very  heavy  rains  upon  us  while  we 
were  encamped  near  Jalapa,  yet  on  our  march  from  that  place 
towards  Puebla,  we  had  most  beautifully  dry  and  pleasant 
weather,  with  bright  and  cloudless  skies;  such,  only,  as  that 
soft  and  sunny  clime  can  know;  and  on  arriving  at  Perote,  the 
ground  was  dry,  and  the  roads  delightfully  hard  and  pleasant, 
the  ordinary  rainy  season  having  riot  yet  fully  set  in.  I  noticed 
numerous  whirlwinds  on  the  dry  and  dusty  plains  about  Perote, 
such  as  frequently  prevail  in  this  country  in  very  dry  weather, 
though  not  to  the  same  extent ;  they  would  carry  up  an  erect 
column  of  dust  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  and  hold  it  in  that 
position  from  five  to  ten  minutes.  I  have  seen  a  dozen  of  them 
at  one  time,  raising  perfect  pyramids  of  dust,  and  almost 
darkening  the  air  with  particles  of  sand  and  fragments  of 
prairie  grass. 

Here  I  had  an  opportunity  of  inspecting  more  minutely  the 
celebrated  maquey  plant,  or  American  Aloe,  from  which  the 
universal  Mexican  drink  called  pulque  is  produced.  I  had  seen 
a  few  scattering  plants  of  this  before,  but  it  does  not  grow  to 
any  considerable  extent,  nearer  the  beach  than  Perote ;  and 
even  here  the  pulque  is  very  scarce,  as  it  is  not  manufactured 
on  a  very  extensive  scale  on  this  side  of  Puebla.  It  has  a 
whitish  appearance,  something  like  a  mixture  of  milk  and 
water,  and  has  a  ropy  adhesive  quality  while  in  the  first  stages 
of  fermentation,  and  at  first  is  very  unpleasant  to  the  taste  and 
smell,  but  if  you  can  manage  to  swallow  half  .a  dozen  glasses 
without  vomiting,  you  will  be  apt  to  think  it  a  very  pleasant 


IN  MEXICO.  83 

drink  ever  afterwards.  The  greatest  objection  to  it  at  first  is  its 
tainted  or  putrid  taste,  which  is  occasioned  by  the  sheep  or  hog 
skins  in  which  it  is  carried.  I  do  not  know  whether  this  is 
adopted  as  a  matter  of  convenience,  or  to  facilitate  the  process 
of  fermentation;  but  its  frequent  use  will  soon  do  away  with 
that  objection,  and  then  it  is  esteemed  one  of  the  most  pleasant 
and  refreshing  drinks  imaginable.  I  can  well  remember  when 
its  unpleasant  odor  rendered  it  almost  loathsome  even  to  pass 
the  door  of  a  pulque  shop,  and  as  for  drinking  it,  I  would  as  soon 
have  thought  of  regaling  myself  with  a  draught  of  tartar  emetic ; 
but  before  I  left  the  city  of  Mexico,  my  attachment  for  it  had  so 
increased  that  I  would  as  soon  have  been  deprived  of  my  coffee 
as  my  glass  of  pulque. 

This  plant  is  cultivated  very  extensively  in  the  vicinity  of 
Puebla  and  in  the  valley  of  Mexico  in  large  fields,  from  which 
immense  profits  are  realized  by  the  proprietors.  It  grows  from 
seven  to  fourteen  years  before  it  blooms,  and  while  in  the 
efflorescent  state,  the  main  trunk  or  stem  is  cut  off  about  three 
feet  from  the  ground,  and  the  pith  or  soft  spungy  substance  in 
the  centre  is  cut  out  with  an  iron  scraper,  forming  a  cavity  or 
bowl  sufficiently  large  to  hold  several  gallons  of  sap;  it  is  then 
covered  so  as  to  protect  it  from  the  rain,  and  permitted  to  stand 
for  twenty-four  hours.  The  Indian  laborer  who  then  comes  to 
secure  the  liquid  that  has  collected  in  the  cavity,  has  a  skin  of 
either  a  hog,  sheep,  or  goat,  which  he  carries  confined  in  a 
coarse  network  on  his  back,  and  supported  by  a  leather  strap, 
which  he  passes  over  the  forehead.  He  also  carries  a  gourd 
about  two  feet  long,  which  answers  the  purpose  of  a  suction 
pipe,  with  a  small  hole  in  one  end,  while  on  the  other,  or  smaller 
end,  is  fixed  a  horn,  which  he  inserts  into  the  cavity  of  the 
stalk,  and  placing  the  other  to  his  mouth,  he  sucks  until  the 
gourd  is  filled;  he  then  places  his  finger  over  the  lower  end  to 
prevent  the  liquor  from  escaping,  and  turning  it  over  his 
shoulder  inserts  it  in  the  mouth  of  the  skin.  This  process  is 
repeated  until  the  skin  is  full,  and  then  he  sets  off  for  market, 
where  he  disposes  of  it.  It  is  said  that  one  plant  will  often 
yield  as  much  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  gallons,  and  some  even 
more  than  that.  Humboldt  says  that  a  single  plant  of  the 
maguey  will  yield  452  cubic  inches  of  liquor  in  twenty-four 
hours,  for  as  long  a  period  as  four  or  five  months,  which  would 
amount  to  more  than  four  hundred  gallons.  The  pulque,  when 
first  taken  from  the  stalk,  is  poured  into  large  vats  or  barrels 
lined  with  skins,  where  it  remains  until  the  process  of  fermenta 
tion  commences ;  it  is  then  carried  to  the  shop,  where  it  is 
placed  in  large  tubs  or  barrels,  from  whence  it  is  retailed  at  a 


84 

tlaco  a  glass,  which  is  about  a  picayune  a  quart.  The  pulque 
shops  in  the  city  are  distinguished  by  fanciful  red  flags  suspended 
above  the  door;  these  flags  are  generally  hung  out  about  9 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  the  shops  are  opened,  and  are 
taken  down  at  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  when  all  the  shops 
of  that  kind  are  invariably  closed  by  a  regulation  of  the  city 
authorities,  and  if  one  is  found  open  arter  that  hour,  the  propri 
etor  forfeits  his  license.  I  think  it  contains  something  more 
of  the  intoxicating  quality  than  ordinary  hard  cider,  as  I  have 
seen  persons  become  quite  drunk  from  drink  ng  less  than  half 
a  dozen  glasses. 

I  have  been  led,  from  observation,  to  conclude  that  the  Mexi 
cans  generally  are  rather  a  temperate  and  abstemious  people  ; 
and  I  am  yet  of  opinion  that  there  are  fewer  cases  of  drunken- 
ness  in  the  towns  and  larger  cities  of  Mexico,  than  there  are  in 
those  of  the  United  States;  yet  I  have  seen  large  parties  of  both 
men  and  women  collect  at  those  pulque  shops,  on  pleasant 
afternoons,  and  Sundays  more  particularly,  and  after  passing 
round  the  flowing  bowl  till  they  had  all  become  quite  lively  and 
frolicsome,  they  would  seat  one  of  their  companions  in  a  corner 
with  a  guitar,  while  with  song  and  dance  they  would  shuffle  off 
a  real  fandango  at  quite  a  merry  rate.  1  noticed  that  there 
were  two  kinds  of  pulque  which  were  used  by  the  citizens  of 
Puebla  more  particularly,  but  I  do  not  remember  of  seeing  but 
one  kind  in  the  city  of  Mexico;  the  pulque,  la  bianco,  or  white 
pulque,  which  is  the  unadulterated,  and  the  pulque  la  penia,  or 
the  pulque  of  pine  apple,  which  is  strongly  impregnated  with 
the  juice  of  the  latter  fruit,  and  tastes  and  looks  like  new  cider. 
The  former  is  in  universal  use,  and  is  considered  very  healthy; 
the  latter  is  more  pleasant  to  the  taste,  but  not  so  much  used, 
as  it  is  considered  unwholesome. 

We  left  Perote  with  but  very  few  manifestations  of  regret,  on 
Monday  morning,  the  10th  of  May,  and  after  inarching  about 
ten  miles  round  the  foot  of  a  very  high  mountain,  and  over  a 
hard  and  level  road,  we  were  halted  for  the  night,  at  some  dra 
goon's  barracks  called  San  Antonio,  where  we  found  a  very 
deep  well,  the  water  from  which  was  from  fair  to  middling, 
and  was  drawn  up  by  one,  mule  power.  Near  our  quarters  was 
a  hacienda,  or  small  village,  consisting  of  some  fifteen  or 
tvvent)  huts,  the  inhabitants  of  which  were  engaged  in  making 
a  kind  of  coarse  cloth  from  the  bark  of  maguey  leaves,  and  the 
leaf  of  the  palrn  or  palmetto  tree.  I  rambled  all  over  this  vil 
lage,  inquiring  at  every  door  for  pandamice,  tortillias,  or  chile 
soup,  but  not  one  mouthful  of  any  thing  that  would  appease  the 
cravings  of  hunger  could  be  had  for  either  love  or  money,  within 


IN  MEXICO.  85 

the  corporate  limits  of  this  flourishing  little  inland  town.  A 
wall  built  of  brick  and  mortar,  about  ten  rods  square  and  fifteen 
feet  high,  enclosed  our  quarters,  on  one  side  of  which  were 
arranged  stalls  for  horses,  and  on  the  other  side  were  barracks 
for  soldiers.  We  killed  some  fat  beeves  at  this  place,  a  thing, 
by  the  bye,  of  rather  rare  occurrence,  and  made  our  short  so 
journ  quite  as  comfortable  as  could  have  been  expected  under 
the  circumstances. 

The  weather  still  continued  clear  and  dry,  and  would  have 
been  altogether  pleasant  if  it  had  not  been  quite  so  warm, 
which  rendered  our  long  and  fatiguing  marches  rnther  exhaust 
ing.  Refreshed  and  invigorated  by  a  sound  night's  sleep,  and 
a  most  delicious  breakfast  of  savory  beefsteak,  the  first  faint 
streaks  of  day  found  us,  with  well-filled  canteens  and  haver 
sacks,  and  forty  rounds  of  ball  cartridges,  marking  the  prairie's 
wide  waste  with  clouds  of  rolling  dust,  towards  the  Eden  of  our 
hopes,  and  the  beau  ideal  of  our  ambition,  la  grande  ciudad  de 
Jos  angclcs,  (the  proud  and  opulent  city  of  the  angels.)  Our 
march  on  this  day  led  over  a  most  beautiful  hard  level  road, 
traversing  a  valley  "shut in  from  the  rude  world"  by  the  rug 
ged  cliffs  of  tall  and  continuous  mountains,  whose  craggy 
brows  and  barren  tops  rose  treeless  and  shrubless  in  silent, 
solitary  grandeur  towards  the  parched  scroll  of  the  burning 
heavens.  The  valley  itself  was  a  perfectly  dry  and  barren 
plain,  with  only  now  and  then  a  stunted  growth  of  withered 
prairie  grass,  and  not  one  drop  of  water  to  cool  the  parched 
lip  of  the  way-worn  soldier,  as  he  tottered  and  groaned  beneath 
his  un wieldly  burden.  The  very  atmosphere  seemed  to  be 
stagnant,  and  the  winds  withered;  and  the  occasional  breeze 
that  would  spring  up  seemed  to  be  only  the  hot  puffings  of  some 
heated  furnace,  or  pent  up  volcano.  Not  a  bird  flapped  its 
useless  wing,  nor  an  insect  spread  its  silken  pinions  to  the 
breeze — the  hum  of  busy  life  was  hushed  and  still — the  low  of 
the  distant  herd,  the  snorting  of  the  wild  horse,  and  the  hungry 
wolf's  long  howl,  never  resounded  in  these  valleys,  or  echoed 
on  these  barren  mountains. 

As  we  progressed  further,  a  rather  peculiar  species  of  the 
cactus  were  seen,  and  a  sweet-smelling  herb,  bearing  a  white 
flower,  and  somewhat  resembling  the  lavander  of  this  country; 
but  they  even  appeared  stunted  and  dry  for  want  of  moisture 
and  nourishment.  This  low  level  region  is  a  continuation  of 
the  valley  of  Perote,  which  we  entered  some  few  leagues  be 
fore  reaching  that  city,  since  which  time  we  had  not  seen  a 
single  drop  of  running  water,  and  but  one  well,  excepting  the 
fountains  at  the  city  of  Perote.  We  were  halted  on  this  day 


about  two  o'clock,  and  took  up  our  quarters  in  the  barracks  at  a 
considerable  village  or  town  called  Tepeyahualco,  where  we 
remained  for  the  balance  of  the  day  and  night,  and  proceeded 
forthwith  to  refresh  ourselves  with  draughts  of  tolerably  fresh 
cool  water,  which  we  found  tolerably  good,  though  a  little  on 
the  mineral  order.  The  water  which  we  brought  in  our  can 
teens  from  the  camp  at  San  Antonio  was  heated  almost  to 
scalding,  being  exposed  all  day  on  the  hot  prairie  to  a  blazing 
tropical  sun,  and  you  may  readily  suppose  that  almost  any  water 
would  taste  well  after  drinking  such  as  that  for  a  whole  day. 
1  found  myself  rather  too  much  exhausted  from  the  fatigues  of 
the  day  to  amuse  myself  much  in  travelling  over  the  town,  but 
if  I  were  to  judge  from  the  rather  limited  amount,  of  observation 
which  I  found  it  convenient  to  bestow  upon  it,  I  should  feel 
bound  to  say  that  it  was  a  place  of  some  importance,  or  at  least, 
conceived  to  be  so  by  the  citizens,  and  might,  with  some  pro 
priety,  soon  be  called  a  city  by  brevet.  The  houses  are  gen 
erally  well  constructed,  being  built  of  brick  or  stone,  and 
strongly  fortified  with  thick,  heavy  doors,  and  iron  bars  across 
the  windows. 

I  think  if  there  is  any  place  irv^the  world  where  a  man's 
house  can,  with  propriety,  be  callecr"his  castle,"  that  place  is 
Mexico;  as  their  most  ordinary  houses,  especially  in  towns  and 
cities,  appear  to  have  been  built,  with  the  direct  object  in  view, 
of  enabling  the  inmates  to  defend  themselves  against  the  hasty 
attacks,  or  protracted  siege,  of  any  revolutionary  movement  or 
military  invasion.  I  was  rather  astonished  at  finding  this  place 
better  supplied  with  the  necessaries  of  life  than  most  places  of 
its  size  we  had  passed  before;  it  even  excelled  the  flourishing 
city  of  Perote  itself.  When  I  recollected  that  this  town  is 
situated  in  the  midst  of  an  almost  desert  waste,  where  scarcely 
a  vestige  of  vegetation  cculd  be  seen,  or  a  drop  of  water  pro 
cured,  I  expected  of  course  to  find  it  but  illy  supplied  with  tho;  e 
"kitchen  comforts"  which  are  always  necessary  to  suppress 
the  clamorings  of  an  Anglo-Saxon  appetite ;  but  in  this,  for 
once  in  my  life.  I  was  most  agreeably  disappointed,  for  near 
our  quarters  I  found  several  shops  where  bread,  potatoes,  fruit, 
and  pulque  were  sold  in  all  quantities,  and  at  reasonable  prices. 
This  can  only  be  accounted  for  from  the  circumstance  that  quite 
an  extensive  commerce  is  carried  on  between  that  place  and 
other  more  wealthy  and  productive  portions  of  the  country, 
from  which  large  supplies  of  merchandize  are  almost  constantly 
being  received;  but  the  nature  or  material  of  the  exports  with 
which  this  town  commands  such  a  trade  with  her  more  opulent 


IN  MEXICO.  87 

neighbors,  is  a  matter  upon  which  I  was  not  so  fortunate  as  to 
gain  any  satisfactory  information. 

Near  this  place,  on  its  eastern  side,  is  a  very  peculiar  moun 
tain,  rising  abruptly  from  the  surrounding  plain  to  a  great 
height,  and  almost  overshadowing  the  town;  it  is  called  Cerro 
Pizzarro,  and  is  perfectly  conical  in  its  shape,  with  little  or  no 
vegetation  upon  its  sides,  and  is  said  to  be  composed  of  a  solid 
mass  of  volcanic  matter.  The  barracks  in  which  we  were 
quartered  at  this  place  had  recently  been  used  as  stables,  and 
we  slept  soundly  and  sweetly  upon  the  sweet-scented  hay  which 
the  horses  had  scattered  from  the  racks,  while  a  large  pen  of 
hogs  were  squealing  and  fighting  just  at  our  heads  all  night 
long;  but  the  " porker's  serenade,"  with  all  its  "concord  of 
sweet  sounds,"  was  not  sufficient  to  keep  us  awake.  It  is  very 
hard  indeed  to  disturb  the  repose  of  a  tired  soldier,  or  place  him 
in  a  position  where  he  cannot  sleep.  His  greatest  luxury  is  in 
roving  the  enchanted  plains  of  the  dreamy  land,  and  holding 
converse  \vith  the  spirits  that  people  the  bright  realms  of  "tired 
nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep,"  and  the  beauty  of  it  is 
that  he  can  sleep  any  where,  at  any  time,  under  any  set  of  cir 
cumstances,  and  with  any  kind  of  company.  He  can  throw 
himself  upon  the  cold  ground,  and  with  his  head  upon  the  curb 
stone,  and  a  single  blanket  for  his  covering,  sleep  as  soundly 
and  rest  as  sweetly  as  if  he  were  reposing  upon  a  bed  of 
down ;  and  perchance  he  may  dream  of  happier  hours  when 
war's  shrill  clarion  shall  be  hushed,  and  returning  peace  shall 
restore  him  to  his  long  lost  home  and  friends. 

"  When  reposing  that  night  on  my  pallet  of  straw, 
By  the  wolf-saring  faggot  that  guarded  the  slain; 

At  the  dead  of  the  night  a  sweet  vision  I  saw, 
And  thrice  e'er  the  morning  I  dreampt  it  again. 

Methought  from  the  battle-field  dreadful  array, 

Far,  far  had  I  roamed  on  a  desolate  track; 
'Twas  autumn — and  sunshine  arose  on  the  way 

To  the  home  of  my  fathers  that  welcomed  me  back." 

The  Alcalde  of  this  town  was  very  kind  and  obliging,  and 
seemed  disposed  to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  to  render  our 
stay  within  the  corporate  limits  of  his  jurisdiction  comfortable 
and  happy.  And  even  the  canaille,  the  gentlemen  of  the 
blanket,  and  the  ladies  of  the  basket,  whom  we  met  about  the 
streets,  seemed  to  greet  us  with  a  welcome  smile,  and  kindly 
extended  to  us  every  hospitality  which  their  very  limited  means 
would  enable  them  to  command.  The  ladies  in  particular  were 
kind  and  attentive  to  a  fault,  making  the  soldiers  presents  of 


SCOTT  S    CAMPAIGN 

various  little  articles  which  they  might  need  on  the  march,  such 
as  earthen  cups,  wooden  spoons,  and  the  like.  I  could  not  but 
remark  the  very  striking  difference  between  our  reception  at 
this  place  and  at  Perote.  At  the  latter  place  we  were  all  look 
ed  upon  with  an  eye  of  suspicion  and  distrust,  and  the  doors  of 
hospitable  kindness  and  plenty  were  all  locked  against  us.  But 
here,  we  were  every  where  regarded  as  friends  rather  than 
enemies,  to  an  extent  that  made  us  almost  regret  that  our  pecu 
liar  relationship  arrayed  us  in  hostile  attitude  against  such  kind 
and  generous  foes. 

We  bid  adieu  to  our  much  respected  host,  the  Alcalde  of 
Tepeyahualco,  and  his  most  gracious  and  obedient  subjects,  on 
Wednesday  morning,  the  12th  of  May,  and  turned  our  faces 
towards  Ojo-de-Agua,  which  was  designed  as  our  next  camp. 
After  leaving  this  town  a  short  distance,  I  cast  my  eyes  ahead 
to  see  if  I  could  discover  any  traces  of  a  probable  change  of 
St'ene,  or  variation  of  landscape,  which  might  appear  in  the 
shape  of  a  meandering  brook,  a  rising  knoll,  or  a  cluster  of 
trees ;  but  nothing  but  the  dull  unbroken  monotony  that  had 
hung  about  our  path  for  the  last  two  days'  march,  still  spread 
out  its  dreary  and  burning  track  before  us,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  without  a  green  spot  to  mark  the  withered  w^aste 
of  nature's  wildest  desolation.  That  dull,  dead  level,  without 
the  pleasing  variation  ol  rise  or  fall,  and  those  eternal  moun 
tains  that  hemmed  in  our  way  on  cither  side,  were  still  frown 
ing  down  upon  us  with  their  beetling  brows  and  diadems  of 
rock,  where  stunted  vegetation  never  dares  to  shoot  a  living 
blade,  or  show  a  leaf  of  green.  This  day  the  weather  was 
excessively  hot,  and  in  order  to  reach  water  in  a  sufficient 
quantity  to  supply  both  man  and  beast,  we  were  compelled  'to 
make  a  forced  march  of  about  twenty-five  miles,  which  so  com 
pletely  wore  out  and  exhausted  the  men  that  scores  of  them 
sunk  down  by  the  road  side,  and  was  left  to  find  their  way  into 
camp,  whenever  their  returning  strength  might  enable  them  to 
resume  the  march ;  and  many,  I  dare  say,  never  overtook  the 
army  at  all,  but  fell  victims  to  the  destroying  knife  of  the 
ladroncs,  who  were  constantly  hanging  about  our  flanks  and 
rear,  like  gangs  of  famished  wolves,  seeking  to  devour  the  weak 
and  lame  who  might  fall  behind  the  line  of  march.  I  shall 
always  cherish,  with  a  grateful  heart,  the  remembrance  of  a 
kind  and  generous  deed  which  was  done  me  on  the  afternoon  of 
that  day  by  James  D.  Blanding,  our  brigade  commissary,  and 
which,  in  all  probability,  saved  my  life.  We  had  been  urging 
our  way  over  the  hot,  dusty  prairie,  for  about  eight  hours ;  I  had 
been  rallying  all  my  energies  into  one  mighty  effort  to  keep  up, 


IN  MEXICO.  89 

but  at  length  exhausted  nature  failed  to  sustain  me  any  longer, 
and  with  swollen  limbs  and  bruised  and  blistered  feet,  I  had 
been  compelled  to  fall  some  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  lines.  I 
had  just  passed  one  of  my  particular  friends  who  had  given  out 
and  was  lying  by  the  road,  his  head  resting  upon  his  arm,  and 
his  gun  lying  at  his  feet ;  he  bogged  me  to  give  him  some  assist 
ance,  but  I  candidly  told  him  that  it  was  completely  out  of  my 
power,  as  I  should  shortly  have  to  lie  down  myself  unless  I  got 
some  assistance.  I  can  never  forget  the  look  he  gave  me  as  1 
passed  on  and  left  him,  as  he  expected,  no  doubt,  to  be  murdered 
in  less  than  half  an  hour.  Poor  Fetner!  he  was  taken  up  by 
some  teamster  and  brought  into  camp;  he  survived  but  a  shoit 
time,  and  died  in  the  hospital  soon  after  we  reached  Puebla.  I 
had  hobbled  on  about  a  mile,  and  had  concluded  to  lie  down  and 
submit  to  my  fate ;  just  at  this  moment  Captain  Blanding  was 
riding  past  me,  and  on  seeing  my  almost  helpless  condition,  he 
immediately  halted  a  wagon  and  ordered  the  teamster  to  give 
mo  a  seat  and  see  that  I  was  safely  conducted  to  camp.  This 
act  of  kindness  may  appear  to  some  as  nothing  more  than  the 
boundcn  duty  of  an  officer  towards  a  sick  or  disabled  soldier, 
but  still  it  was  a  favor  by  no  means  conferred  in  all  cases  by 
the  gentlemen  of  the  sword  and  epaulette. 

A  little  after  sun  down  we  reached  Ojo-dc-Agua,  (the  eye  of 
water,)  or  warm  springs,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  where  we 
encamped  for  the  night  upon  a  beautiful  plain  covered  with  a 
very  luxuriant  growth  of  coarse  grass  and  palmetto  trees.  This 
is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  springs  I  ever  saw, 
producing  a  large  volume  of  clear  sparkling  water,  which 
rushes  out  of  the  ground  near  the  foot  of  a  small  hillock  or 
mound,  and  runs  off  in  a  limpid  stream  rippling  over  its  pebbly 
bottom,  until  it  looses  itself  in  a  neighboring  lake.  The  water 
from  this  spring  is  so  warm  as  to  be  unpleasant  to  the  taste, 
but  after  keeping  it  in  a  vessel  for  an  hour  or  two,  it  becomes 
cool  enough,  and  after  being  kept  in  a  canteen  all  night  it  be 
comes  so  cold  as  to  make  ones  teeth  ache  in  drinking  it.  The 
grass  on  the  prairie  over  which  we  marched  on  the  afternoon 
of  this  day  was  more  green  and  luxuriant  than  I  had  noticed 
before,  growing  in  many  places  as  tall  as  wheat  or  rye;  this 
was  occasioned  by  the  proximity  of  lakes  and  large  ponds  of 
water  which  imparted  some  moisture  to  the  soil.  The  trees 
which  skirted  the  foot  of  the  mountains  were  also  larger  and 
more  green  and  luxuriant,  and  the  whole  face  of  the  country 
began  to  wear  a  different  and  more  lively  aspect;  large  droves 
of  wild  horses  and  cattle  were  seen  grazing  upon  the  green 
bosom  of  the  trackless  prairie ;  and  birds  of  rich  and  varied 


90  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

plumage  flitted  across  our  path,  and  nestled  in  the  gieen  herbage 
upon  the  mountain's  side.  The  fact  was,  we  were  about  to 
emerge  from  the  celebrated  valley  of  Perote,  through  which  we 
had  been  marching  for  the  last  three  days,  during  which  time 
we  had  not  seen  a  single  stream  of  running  water.  We  threw 
ourselves  upon  the  tall  waving  grass  and  slept  as  soundly  as 
our  lacerated  feet  and  aching  bones  would  permit  us,  until  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  wre  were  suddenly  aroused 
from  our  slumbers,  and  ordered  to  prepare  for  the  march  with 
all  possible  despatch,  as  an  express  had  reached  our  camp  from 
General  Worth,  who  was  about  twenty-five  miles  in  our  ad 
vance,  ordering  our  brigade  to  press  forward  with  all  speed  and 
join  him  that  day,  if  possible,  as  Santa  Anna  was  in  his  vicinity 
with  quite  a  strong  force,  whom  he  intended  to  attack  as  soon  as 
Quitman's  brigade  could  reach  him.  So  off  we  set  at  early 
dawn,  under  a  rapid  forced  march,  with  what  we  considered 
pretty  fair  prospects  of  a  fight  ahead ;  but  fortunately  for  us, 
about  noon  another  order  reached  us,  countermanding  the  one 
in  the  morning,  in  consequence  of  Santa  Anna  having  left  his 
former  position,  and  moved  off  in  the  direction  of  Puebla.  So 
we  did  not  accomplish  our  intended  march,  but  stopped  at  quite 
an  early  hour,  at  a  large  pond  of  water,  near  the  foot  of  a 
mountain  called  El  Final. 

We  pitched  our  camp  upon  a  hill  side,  where  there  was  very 
little  wood ;  we  built  fires  of  the  maguey  leaves,  which  answered 
our  purposes  *br  cooking;  and  as  the  water  from  the  pond  was 
very  warm  and  muddy,  the  Indian  women  from  the  neighboring 
ranches  supplied  us  with  an  article  of  rather  a  superior  quality, 
which  they  brought  in  earthen  jars  strapped  upon  their  backs, 
and  sold  it  to  the  soldiers  in  camp  at  a  tlaco  a  pint.  A  soldier 
belonging  to  the  New  York  regiment  was  shot  through  the 
fleshy  part  of  both  his  thighs  soon  after  we  pitched  our  camp. 
I  called  to  see  him  while  the  Doctor  was  dressing  his  wound; 
he  seemed  to  be  suffering  great  pain.  I  never  saw  any  thing 
more  of  him  after  that  evening,  nor  did  I  ever  hear  whether  he 
lived  or  died.  The  night  was  very  cold  and  we  had  to  submit 
to  the  inconvenience  of  sleeping  on  the  naked  ground,  without 
tents,  and  but  a  single  blanket.  Worth's  division  had  occupied 
this  position  the  night  before,  and  their  camp  fires  were  still 
burning  when  we  arrived,  and  the  fresh  traces  of  their  long 
lines  of  tents  were  still  visible.  This  place  takes  its  name  from 
a  tall  mountain  that  rises  near  the  road,  and  to  the  left,  and  is 
perfectly  covered  from  top  to  bottom  with  a  stunted  growth  of 
pines,  together  with  several  other  smaller  ones  that  rises  out  of 
the  valley  around  it,  which  seem  to  be  composed  almost  entirely 


1'N  MEXICO.  91 

of  a  solid  rock,  with  the  trees  and  shrubbery  growing  from  the 
crevices  and  fissures,  and  which  is  probably  of  volcanic  forma 
tion.  In  this  vicinity  the  land  appeared  to  be  quite  productive, 
and  I  noticed  a  large  number  of  very  extensive  and  well-culti 
vated  farms  in  the  vicinity,  with  swarms  of  Indian  laborers  at 
work  upon  them.  Their  manner  of  cultivating  their  farms  in 
that  country  is  rather  peculiar,  as  is  also  their  implements  of 
husbandry;  their  ploughs  have  but  one  handle,  and  are  almost 
invariably  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen;  the  ploughman  holds  the 
handle  of  the  plough  in  one  hand,  and  in  the  other  a  long  pole 
with  an  iron  point,  with  which  he  goads  the  oxen  when  he 
wishes  them  to  increase  their  speed.  The  plough  mould  is 
nothing  more  than  a  piece  of  wood  pointed  with  iron,  and  fre 
quently  without  any  iron  at  all.  Tho  movement  of  the  oxen  in 
harness  is  very  slow,  but  they  seem  to  plough  the  ground  quite 
deep,  and  open  a  very  large  furrow,  although  the  process  must 
be  slow  and  tedious.  I  should  suppose  that  this  is  the  very 
same  style  of  plough  that  their  Aztec  fathers  used  for  ten  gen 
erations  back,  and  yet  such  is  their  superstition,  and  stubborn 
opposition  to  the  least  movement  of  innovation  on  the  ancient 
habits  and  customs,  that  they  peremptorily  reject  every  im 
provement,  in  any  department  of  business,  and  cling  with  infidel 
tenacity  to  long  established  rules.  Those  who  use  the  hoe, 
which  is  also  a  strange,  savage-looking  instrument,  and  is  so 
formed  that  it  is  impossible  to  stand  erect  and  use  it,  bend  then- 
heads  almost  to  the  ground,  which  position  they  are  compelled 
to  maintain  all  the  day  long,  and  digging  away  at  such  a  rapid 
rate  that  one  would  think  their  very  lives  depended  on  the 
amount  of  work  they  might  be  able  to  accomplish  in  one  day. 
The  ox  is  used  almost  invariably  for  the  plough  and  the  cart ; 
the  rnule  and  ass,  as  beasts  of  burden ;  and  the  horse  for  the 
saddle.  These  rules  are  not  invariably  adhered  to,  but  they 
are  very  seldom  departed  from. 

The  Mexican  horses  generally  are  not  large,  but  finely  pro 
portioned,  spirited,  and  active,  and  can  carry  a  man  further  in  a 
day,  with  less  fatigue  to  themselves  and  rider,  than  the  larger 
and  more  powerful  horses  of  this  country.  In  perfect  symme 
try  of  formation,  spirit  and  mettle,  general  beauty,  and  variety 
of  gait,  and  the  power  of  enduring  protracted  fatigue  without 
serious  inconvenience,  the  Mexican  horses  excel  those  perhaps 
of  any  other  country.  Thompson,  in  his  "  Recollections  of 
Mexico,"  says  that  he  never  saw  a  fine  Mexican  horse.  In 
this  particular  I  shall  certainly  disagree  with  him,  especially  if 
he  intends  to  convey  the  idea  that  there  are  no  such  thing  as 
fine  horses  in  Mexico;  and  in  the  face  of  such  authority  as  this, 


92  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

I  shall  risk  the  assertion  that  the  finest  horses,  decidedly,  that 
I  ever  did  see,  were  the  well-fed,  well-trained  saddle  horses, 
which  are  used  for  riding  on  the  Paseo  and  Alcmada  by  the 
higher  classes  in  the  city  of  Mexico.  And  I  can  also  further 
say,  without  fear  of  successful  contradiction,  that  the  Mexican 
cabaUcros  are  the  finest  riders,  and  the  best  horsemen  generally 
that  I  ever  saw.  Throwing  the  lasso  or  lariat,  is  not  only  a 
very  fashionable  amusement,  but  also  a  very  useful  art,  among 
the  vigorous  and  athletic  horsemen  of  Mexico,  and  can  only  be 
performed,  with  any  degree  ot  skill,  by  a  first  rate  rider,  and  he 
mounted  upon  a  first  rate  horse.  I  have  seen  them  catch  wild 
cattle,  and  even  horses,  by  throwing  the  lasso  over  their  heads, 
or  any  foot  they  might  choose,  at  pleasure,  and  both  parties  going 
at  full  speed.  The  lasso  is  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  cart 
rope,  formed  of  a  compound  of  horse  hair  and  the  bark  of  the 
maguey,  and  is  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  long,  and  so  strong 
that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  break  it.  One  end  of  this  rope 
is  formed  into  a  noose,  and  held  in  the  hand  of  the  rider,  while 
the  other  is  tied  Hist  to  the  saddle  bow ;  this  lasso  can  be  thrown 
by  a  skilful  hand,  with  great  certainty  and  precision,  the  full 
length  of  the  rope,  even  if  it  is  fifty  feet  long.  Some  of  the 
Mexican  Generals  have  thought  that  the  exercise  of  throwing 
the  lasso  might  be  incorporated  into  the  military  tactics  of  the 
republic,  and  be  used  to  advantage  in  breaking  hollow  squares 
of  infantry,  by  lassoing  the  men  and  leading  them  out  of  lines, 
thus  making  the  lasso  usurp  the  place  of  the  sword  in  cavalry 
movements. 

The  first  Mexican  stage  coach  I  saw,  was  on  the  road  near 
Jalapa.  It  was  built  very  much  like  those  of  the  States,  and 
resembled  them  very  much  in  its  general  appearance  ;  I  think, 
if  any  difference,  it  is  something  larger;  it  was  drawn  at  quite 
a  rapid  rate  by  ten  fine  dashing  mules,  the  first  and  second  four 
abreast,  and  two  in  the  lead,  with  twelve  men  in  and  on  it  be 
sides  the  driver.  I  should  judge  from  what  1  saw  that  stage 
travelling  was  rather  pleasant  in  Mexico;  the  roads  are  gener 
ally  good  ;  the  drivers  sober  and  careful,  and  the  mules  kept  up 
to  the  top  of  their  mettle,  being  changed  every  eight  or  ten 
miles,  and  I  should  think  made  much  better  time  than  is  gen 
erally  made  by  stages  in  this  country. 

There  is  another  mode  of  public  conveyance  in  Mexico, 
which  is  called  the  litlcra,  in  which  one  can  travel  privately, 
and  is  quite  "the  go"  among  the  elite  of  the  tierra  calicnte. 
It  is  nothing  more  than  a  covered  litter,  in  which  the  solitary 
traveller  can  have  all  the  room  to  himself,  and  enjoy  "the 
liberty  of  the  limb  "  to  a  much  more  satisfactory  extent  than  he 


IN  MEXICO.  93 

can  in  a  stage  coach.  It  is  carried  quite  above  the  ground  by 
two  mules,  the  one  following  the  other;  it  is  constructed  for  the 
accommodation  of  but  one  passenger,  and  he  can  recline  most 
luxuriously  at  full  length,  perfectly  sheltered  from  sun  and  rain 
by  the  rich  silken  curtains  that  completely  envelop  the  whole 
interior,  and  there,  shut  in  from  the  busy  world,  can  enjoy  an 
undisturbed  tranquillity,  and  amuse  himself  by  smoking,  or 
reading,  or  thinking,  or  doing  just  nothing  at  all,  as  may  seem 
to  be  most  agreeable  to  his  fancy  or  inclination.  The  littera 
is  attended  by  two  arrieros  or  muleteers,  whose  business  it  is 
to  keep  the  long-eared  animals  at  a  pretty  brisk  gait,  and  have 
a  care  that  they  do  not  stumble  and  fall,  which  would  be  very 
apt  to  disturb  most  seriously  the  horizontal  equilibrium  of  the 
inside  passenger,  and  perhaps  cause  him  to  spill  his  book  or 
segar,  or  perhaps  his  own  precious  person. 

Before  the  first  faint  streaks  of  the  coming  morn  had  lit  up 
the  tall  peak  of  El  Final,  or  the  gray  mists  that  hung  upon  its 
sides  were  being  dispersed  by  the  silvery  beams  of  Aurora's 
first  born,  our  camp  was  roused  by  the  early  reveille,  and  the 
sleeping  soldier,  forgetting  his  dreams,  sprang  from  his  grassy 
couch,  shook  the  dew-drops  from  his  locks,  and  arranging  his 
toilet  by  the  glimmering  light  of  the  morning  star,  was  soon 
busily  employed  in  preparing  his  hasty  breakfast,  which  con 
sisted  of  coffee,  beef,  and  crackers,  the  latter  of  which  was 
hard  and  dry  enough  to  justify  the  opinion  which  many  express 
ed,  that  they  were  baked  for  the  troops  in  the  Florida  war. 
This  day,  which  was  Friday,  the  14th  of  May,  we  passed 
through  a  well-watered  and  most  picturesque  portion  of  coun 
try,  the  scenery  of  which  was  grand  and  sublime,  and  the 
landscape  rich  and  variegated.  I  saw  the  black-pepper  tree 
growing  by  the  way  side,  and  loaded  with  berries,  the  hull  of 
which  had  a  red  appearance,  and  grew  in  bunches  like  grapes ; 
I  tasted  some  of  the  grains,  and  soon  satisfied  myself  that  it 
was  the  genuine  black-pepper.  The  tree  grows  from  five  to 
ten  feet  high,  and  somewhat  resembles  the  swamp  willow  of 
this  country.  I  also  saw  the  coffee  tree  in  a  green  or  growing 
state,  and  the  grains  of  coffee  growing  in  bunches  upon  it,  but 
I  did  riot  have  an  opportunity  of  examining  it  as  closely  as  I 
could  have  wished,  and  therefore  am  not  prepared  to  give  an 
accurate  description  of  it. 

About  ten  o'clock  we  passed  through  Acajeta,  which  is  quite 
a  beautiful  little  village,  and  contains  a  splendid  fountain  of 
clear  cold  water,  which  spouts  up  in  beautiful  jets  from  a  large 
reservoir  or  basin,  which  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the  princi 
pal  plaza  or  public  square ;  and  through  the  kindness  of  our 


94  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

officers,  we  were  permitted  to  stop  long  enough  to  take  a  drink 
and  fill  our  canteens,  but  no  longer.  Soon  after  leaving  this 
place,  we  heard  the  report  of  artillery  ahead  of  us,  and  appa 
rently  at  but  a  short  distance,  which  we  all  readily  concluded 
was  an  engagement  between  the  advance  of  General  Worth's 
command  and  the  Mexican  forces  under  Santa  Anna,  which  had 
been  retreating  before  him  for  several  days.  Our  march  was 
instantly  changed  to  double-quick  time,  and  notwithstanding  all 
hands  seemed  to  be  pretty  much  exhausted  and  travel- worn, 
yet  they  moved  on  with  renewed  life  and  vigor,  some  at  a  brisk 
trot,  and  the  balance  as  fast  as  their  wearied  limbs  could  carry 
them ;  and  when  we  were  halted  and  formed  in  line  of  battle, 
the  sick  and  debilitated  invalids  crawled  out  of  the  wagons  and 
joined  us.  Men  who  were  totally  unable  to  march,  and  had 
been  assigned  a  place  by  the  Surgeon,  in  the  hospital  wagons, 
staggered  out  and  reported  themselves  for  duty,  and  took  their 
place  in  lines,  as  if  the  thunder  of  artillery,  and  the  shouts  of 
the  advancing  troops,  had  infused  new  life  into  their  emaciated 
frames. 

We  all  expected  every  moment  to  be  ushered  into  the  thick 
est  of  the  fight,  for  we  were  so  near  the  contending  forces, 
although  not  in  sight,  that  we  could  smell  the  battle's  smoke, 
and  hear  the  whistling  of  the  balls.  But  almost  instantly  the 
firing  ceased,  and  the  news  reached  our  rapidly  advancing  lines, 
that  Worth  had  met  Santa  Anna,  and  after  some  spirited  skir 
mishing,  and  a  few  well-directed  rounds  of  grape  and  canister, 
the  Mexicans  were  routed,  and  were  then  in  full  retreat  towards 
Puebla.  And  when  this  news  reached  our  advancing  columns, 
as  they  were  rushing  and  cheering  on  to  the  combat,  all  seemed 
disappointed,  as  their  mettle  was  up,  and  their  heads  bent  upon 
a  fight,  and  nothing  would  have  pleased  them  better  than  a 
chance  to  measure  arms  with  Santa  Anna,  at  any  odds  what 
ever.  It  was  thought  that  it  was  Santa  Anna's  intention  to 
diverge  from  the  main  road  and  permit  Worth  to  pass  him,  and 
then  fall  on  Quitman's  brigade,  which  only  consisted  of  two 
regiments,  and  after  having  cut  it  to  pieces,  he  would  have  been 
enabled  to  capture  the  wagon  train,  which  would  have  been  of 
some  value  to  him.  But  in  this,  as  in  many  other  like  instances, 
he  was  most  sadly  disappointed,  for  the  vigilant  eye  of  Worth 
had  been  upon  him  all  the  while,  watching  every  movement 
that  he  made,  with  a  determination  never  to  Jet  him  pass  to  the 
rear.  Worth  knowing  our  dangerous  position,  halted  his 
troops  as  soon  as  the  fight  was  over,  and  remained  on  the  field 
until  our  brigade  came  up,  when  we  rejoined  him,  and  after 
putting  our  arms  in  proper  order,  and  being  supplied  with  a  few 


IN  MEXICO.  95 


extra  rounds  of  cartridges,  the  united  forces  marched  on  together 
as  far  as  the  town  of  Amozoque,  which  we  reached  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Here  we  halted,  as  we  thought,  for 
the  night,  and  had  our  quarters  assigned  us  in  some  stables  and 
other  vacant  buildings;  but  the  wagons  were  ordered  not  to  be 
unloaded,  as  it  was  notknown  at  what  hour  we  might  be  ordered 
to  resume  our  march,  as  our  present  position  was  considered 
rather  a  critical  one,  so  we  had  to  pass  our  time  as  comfortably 
as  we  could,  almost  without  rations  or  blankets,  which  was 
rather  a  serious  inconvenience  at  best. 

The  regiment  to  which  I  belonged  was  quartered  in  a  long 
range  of  stalls  or  sheds  for  horses,  and  after  despatching  the 
few  crusts  and  crumbs  which  we  chanced  to  have  in  our  haver 
sacks,  we  commenced  looking  about  us  for  places  to  sleep ;  some 
lay  in  the  troughs,  some  in  the  racks,  and  some  on  the  filthy 
earthen  floor  of  the  stables,  laying  their  heads  upon  their  car 
tridge  boxes  and  canteens,  and  some  even  upon  stones  and 
blocks  of  wood,  not  knowing  at  what  hour  we  might  be  aroused 
for  the  march ;  and  for  convenience,  in  case  of  emergency,  each 
one  lay  his  trusty  musket  by  his  side,  and  placed  all  his  baggage 
so  near  that  he  could  grasp  it  instantly.  But  to  cap  the  climax 
of  our  misery,  just  as  we  had  got  snugly  ensconced  in  our 
quarters,  it  commenced  raining  in  torrents,  and  the  roof  of  our 
quarters  being  very  bad,  the  water  poured  through  upon  us 
like  a  shower  bath,  and  to  an  extent  that  was  by  no  means 
comfortable. 

All  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  have  a  few  reals  went  out 
about  town  in  search  of  some  of  the  luxuries  of  this  trouble 
some  world,  with  which,  towns  the  size  of  this,  in  almost  every 
other  country  except  Mexico,  usually  abound;  but  that  unwel 
come  sound,  the  death-knell  of  a  hungry  man's  hope,  no  hae, 
nader,  saluted  their  ears  in  almost  every  instance,  and  they 
were  able  to  procure  very  little,  even  of  the  substantial  of  life, 
as  supplies  of  all  kinds,  just  at  that  particular  time,  seemed  to 
be  extremely  short ;  and  such,  I  have  no  doubt,  was  the  fact,  :is 
large  bodies  of  the  enemy's  troops  had  been  quartering  there 
for  some  time  past,  on  which  occasions  they  never  fail  to  levy 
large  military  contributions  upon  the  resources  of  their  more 
peaceful  neighbors.  We  were  all  perfectly  drenched  with  the 
rain,  and  had  to  sleep  in  our  wet  clothes  all  night;  but  to  make 
amends  for  whi9h,  and  to  guard  against  the  evil  effects  of  long- 
fasting  and  exposure,  our  commanding  officer  treated  us  the  next 
morning  to  about  a  gill  of  brandy  each,  which  we  all  considered 
very  liberal  and  generous  in  him,  and  in  turn  drank  his  health 
to  the  tune  of  a  deep  dram,  as  we  turned  off  many  a  teeming 


96  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

bumper,  declaring  at  the  same  time,  most  vociferously,  that  he 
should  be  promoted  the  very  first  vacancy. 

We  were  aroused  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but 
from  some  cause  or  other,  we  were  not  able  to  get  off  till 
about  daylight.  We  had  a  bad  night's  rest,  very  little  supper, 
and  no  breakfast;  but  the  brandy  worked  wonders  upon  the 
feelings  of  many  of  us,  causing  us  to  forget  our  hunger,  and 
making  us  all  feel  as  brave  as  Cesar,  and  as  large  as  field 
officers.  I  never  before  felt  the  force  and  beauty  of  that  admi 
rable  sentiment  of  Solomon,  "Let  the  poor  man  drink  and  for 
get  his  poverty,"  We  had  proceeded  about  five  miles  from 
camp  when  we  met  some  Mexicans  going  to  town  with  a  train 
of  packed  mules,  loaded  with  bread,  when  Colonel  Butler,  of 
the  Palmetto  regiment,  ordered  the  drivers  to  stop  them,  when 
he  caused  the  famished  troops  to  be  bountifully  supplied  with 
the  staff  of  life,  which  we  cat  with  good  appetites  and  many 
thanks  to  our  brave  and  generous  Colonel. 

About  ten  o'clock,  we  reached  the  summit  of  a  high  hill, 
which  overlooks  the  city  of  Puebla,  and  from  which  we  had  a 
beautiful  view  of  the  castles,  domes,  and  spires  of  that  ancient 
and  beautiful  city  of  the  angels,  while  in  the  magnificent  array 
of  churches,  theatres,  colleges  and  convents,  with  mosque  and 
minaret,  and  thousand  steeples,  it  seemed  to  sleep  in  silent  but 
princely  grandeur,  upon  the  soft  velvet  bosom  of  the  green 
valley  that  lay  beneath  our  feet.  And  at  12  o'clock  precisely, 
on  Saturday,  the  15th  day  of  May,  1847,  the  van  of  the  invad 
ing  army  of  the  North,  with  the  gallant  and  intrepid  Worth  at 
its  head,  entered  in  triumph  and  without  opposition,  the  south 
gate  of  the  city  of  Puebla,  and  marched  to  the  Grand  Plaza 
fronting  the  Cathedral,  where  they  stacked  their  arms,  and  sup 
plied  themselves  with  water  from  the  fountain.  This  fountain 
appears  to  have  been  formed  out  of  beautifully  carved  basaltic- 
stone,  surmounted  by  some  half  dozen  full  life  likeness  of  a 
species  of  dogs  or  tigers,  with  wide  extended  mouths,  out  of 
which  the  water  spouted  in  every  direction  into  the  basin  below. 

I  thought  I  had  seen  large  masses  of  human  beings  before, 
but  I  never  saw  a  shoreless  sea  of  living,  moving,  animated 
matter,  composed  of  crowding  thousands  of  men,  women  and 
children,  ebbing  and  flowing  like  the  agitated  waves  of  the 
ocean.  From  the  time  that  our  lines  entered  the  outer  gate, 
till  we  reached  the  Grand  Plaza,  every  street,  lane  and  alley, 
door,  window  and  house  top,  were  crowded  and  jammed  with 
solid  columns  of  human  beings,  to  the  depth  of  two  squares  in 
every  direction,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  As  1  cast  my 
eyes  round,  I  almost  shuddered  for  the  fate  of  our  little  army, 


IN  MEXICO.  97 

although  I  saw  no  arms  or  warlike  implements  of  any  kind,  nor 
any  thing  like  a  military  organization,  yet  the  immense  cloud  of 
hostile  citizens  that  hovered  round  our  little  band  in  dark  and 
portentous  gloom,  was  altogether  sufficient  to  have  crushed  our 
whole  force  into  utter  annihilation,  without  the  aid  of  any  other 
arms  than  clubs  and  rocks.      And  it  was  not  on  account  of  any 
good  feelings  which  were  cherished  for  us  on  their  part,  that 
they  did  not  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages  which  circum 
stances  had  thrown  in  their  way,  by  which  they  could  have 
completely  demolished  the  advance  of  the   army  of  invasion, 
before  succor  couldj)ossibly  have  reached  them.     For  I  after 
wards  learned  that  all  they  wanted  was  a  bold  and  daring  leader, 
who  could  have  given  direction  and  impetus  to  public  feeling, 
and  led  the  already  excited  populace,  in  a  united  and  organized 
body,  against  the  heart  of  the  invading  foe.     None  of  us  doubted 
that  the  spirit  was  there;  the  bitter  feeling  of  enmity  and  hatred 
which  they  had  been  taught  to  cherish  from  the  time  the  first 
hostile  gun  was  fired  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  was 
then  burning  in  their  bosoms  like  the  pent  up  fires  of  their  own 
volcanic    mountains;   and  they    longed  for  an  opportunity  ol 
quenching  those  fires  with  the  warm  heart's  blood  that,  might 
flow  from  the  stricken  bosoms  of  a  slaughtered  American  army. 
But  no  modern  Moses  rose  up  to  lead  them  forth — no  martial 
clarion's  thrilling  notes  sounded  to  the  charge — no  battle  cry 
peals  it  thunder  tones  upon  the  patriot's  ear,  urging  the  infuri 
ated  hosts  of  Anahuac's  chivalry  against  the  serried  columns  of 
the  advancing  foe.     The  flower  of  their  army  had  fallen — their 
bravest  and  best  troops  had  gone  down  before  the  wasting  and 
murderous    fire  of   the  Anglo-Saxon,  like    grass    before   the 
reaper — their  favorite  chieftain  had  been  routed,  and  was  then 
on  the  wing,  flying  for  safety,  with  a  few  panic  stricken  troops, 
that  had  rallied  around  their  leader  in  his  fallen  fortunes,  bend 
ing  his  hurried  steps  towards  the   capital,  not  even  daring  to 
look  behind  him. 

The  city  of  Puebla  contains  nearly  one  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants,  ten  thousand  of  whom  at  least  were  able  to  bear 
arms ;  and  these,  backed  and  supported  by  a  hostile  population 
of  eighty  thousand,  were  standing  quietly  by,  and  looking  on, 
when  the  gates  of  the  city  were  opened,  and  an  army  of  four 
thousand  two  hundred  men  entered  the  angel-trod  streets  of  thi? 
celestial  city,  and  took  peaceable  possession  of  it  without  firing 
a  gun.  Many  of  the  citizens  and  foreign  residents,  in  speaking 
afterwards  of  our  entry  into  the  city,  acknowledged  themselves 
perfectly  astonished  at  the  cool  and  careless  indifference  that 
seemed  to  characterize  every  movement  of  the  American  army, 
5 


98  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

while  such  imminent  danger  encompassed  them  on  all  sides. 
They  actually  stacked  their  arms  in  the  plaza  and  marched  off 
to  the  fountain  to  get  water,  and  then  passed  on  to  the  market 
to  buy  bread  and  fruit,  while  those  who  remained  to  guard  our 
arms  lay  down  and  went  to  sleep,  and  at  the  same  time  we  were 
surrounded  in  every  direction  by  hostile  thousands  of  bloody- 
minded  foes,  who  were  anxiously  waiting  an  opportunity  to 
wreak  their  vengeance  upon  the  invaders  of  their  soil.  But 
this  very  spirit  of  apparent  rash  and  reckles  imprudence  might 
have  eventually  proved  our  strongest  safe-guard,  as  it  had  a 
tendency  to  teach  our  enemies  the  light  in  which  we  viewed 
the  prowess  of  their  arms,  and  the  unbounded  confidence  we 
had  in  our  own  skill  and  courage,  which  always  rose  paramount 
to  the  thickening  dangers  that  surrounded  us. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  following  brief  sketch  of  "Za  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles" 
is  given  by  an  English  traveller  who  has  recently  published  a 
history  of  his  travels  in  Mexico: — "Puebla,  the  capital  of  the 
intendency  of  that  name,  is  one  of  the  finest  cities  in  Mexico. 
Its  streets  are  wide  and  regular,  and  the  houses  and  public 
buildings  tre  substantially  built,  and  in  good  taste.  The 
population,  which  is  estimated  at  between  eighty  and  one  hun 
dred  thousand,  is  the  most  vicious  and  demoralized  in  the 
republic.  It  was  founded  by  the  Spaniards  in  1531,  on  the 
site  of  a  srrall  village  of  Cholula  Indians ;  and,  from  its  position, 
anr]  the  fertility  of  the  surrounding  country,  was  unsurpassed 
by  any  othsr  city  in  the  Spanish  Mexican  dominions.  The 
province  U  rich  in  the  remains  of  Mexican  antiquities.  The 
fortifications  of  Tlascalan,  and  the  pyramids  of  Cholula,  are 
worthy  of;  visit,  and  the  noble  cypress  of  Atlixco  is  seventy-six 
feet  in  circumference,  and  according  to  Humboldt,  the  oldest 
vegetable  monument  in  the  world."  General  Thompson,  in 
his  "Reco. lections  of  Mexico,"  speaks  of  this  city  in  the  follow 
ing  terms: — "Puebla  is  a  beautiful  city,  with  lofty  houses,  built 
in  the  purest  style  of  architecture,  and  broad  and  remarkably 
clean  stree'.s.  Its  police  is  greatly  superior  to  that  of  Mexico. 
The  Cathr  .Iral  of  Puebla  is  a  magnificent  edifice,  which  has 
been  said,  hough  hardly  with  justice,  to  rival  the  Cathedral  in 
Mexico.  -'uebla  is  the  Lowell  of  Mexico.  The  principal  cot 
ton  manufactories  are  located  there,  and  some  of  them  in  very 
successful  operation,  which  can  be  said  of  very  few  others." 


IN  MEXICO.  99 

Every  foreigner  who  has  ever  visited  the  city  of  Puebla  has 
expressed  himself  pleased  with  it.  In  fact,  it  could  scarcely  be 
otherwise,  for  its  beautiful  location,  and  the  neat  ,md  tasteful 
structure  of  the  houses,  are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  strike  every 
beholder  with  admiration  and  delight.  It  is  situated  on  a  beau 
tiful  level  plain,  stretching  itself  out  from  the  rive;1  Nasca  on 
the  east,  towards  the  green  and  fertile  vallies,  which  extend  to 
the  foot  of  a  lofty  range  of  mountains  on  the  west,  among  which 
rises  the  lofty  peak  of  Popocatapetl,  around  whose  diadem  of 
snow  is  wrapped  the  clouds  of  heaven.  Some  rf  the  finest 
and  best  cultivated  farms  in  Mexico  are  to  be  i\  and  in  the 
valley  of  Puebla,  which  mainly  supplies  the  immense  popula 
tion  of  that  city  with  the  staff  of  life.  Vast  here; 3  of  sheep, 
goats,  and  cows,  are  always  to  be  seen  grazing  upc  i  the  green 
vales  and  extensive  prairies  beyond  the  suburbs  >f  the  city, 
from  whence  they  are  driven  to  market,  and  withoi  t  any  other 
care  or  feeding,  are  butchered  for  the  shops,  and  rm  ke  the  most 
delicious  beef  and  mutton  in  the  world.  The  area  covered  by 
the  city  of  Puebla  is  about  two  miles  square,  and  i  ?  almost  as 
level  as  a  pavement.  It  is  regularly  and  beautifully  laid  out, 
and  all  the  streets  cross  each  other  at  right  angles,  and  are 
broad  and  clean,  and  paved  with  large  blacks  of  gr  mite  about 
eighteen  inches  square,  and  are  laid  slanting  frc'n  the  side 
walks  towards  the  middle  of  the  street,  which  fori-is  a  reser 
voir  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  off  the  water  in  a  body.  The 
culverts  on  the  cross  streets  are  spanned  over  the  gaps  on  the 
side-walk  with  beautiful  stone  footways,  so  that  0^3  can  pass 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  city  perfectly  dry  shod, 
when  the  middle  of  the  street  is  perfectly  flooded  with  water. 
And  every  time  it  rains,  the  collection  of  filth  which  naturally, 
accumulates  in  all  large  cities,  is  swept  away  by  th  >  current  of 
the  water,  leaving  the  street  perfectly  neat  and  clean,  thereby 
adding  much  to  the  health  and  appearance  of  the  city,  and 
saving  a  deal  of  trouble  to  the  police  and  scavengers.  The 
usual  collections  of  mud  and  filthy  ponds  of  water  which  are 
so  common  about  the  large  cities  of  this  country,  are  totally 
unknown  there,  as  the  whole  face  of  the  earth,  from  centre  to 
suburb,  is  completely  covered  with  a  solid  stone  prvement,  so 
that  the  vast  floods  of  water  which  fall  there  during  the  rainy 
season,  instead  of  washing  up  banks  of  mud  and  sand,  have 
directly  the  opposite  tendency,  and  never  fail  to  leave  the 
streets  in  every  respect  cleaner,  and  in  a  better  condition. 

The  Grand  Plaza,  near  the  centre  of  which  stands  the  Ca 
thedral,  covers  an  area  of  several  acres,  and  is  surrounded  by 
lines  of  stone  posts,  connected  by  large,  heavy  chains ;  it  is  also 


100 

partly  enclosed  by  a  wall  of  brick  and  mortar,  with  seats  on  the 
inside  for  the  use  of  the  market  women. 

Having  given  the  observations  of  two  distinguished  writers 
of  Mexican  history,  upon  the  city  of  Puebla,  I  will  close  my 
references  upon  that  subject  with  a  few  paragraphs  from  the 
able  and  graphic  pen  of  Mr.  Brantz  Mayer,  whose  work, 
"Mexico  as  it  was  and  as  it  is,"  has  been  so  universally  read 
and  admired.  He  says: — "My  recollections  of  Puebla  (com 
paring  it  now  with  Mexico)  are  far  more  agreeable  than  those 
of  the  Capital.  There  is  an  air  of  neatness  and  tidiness  ob 
servable  every  where.  The  streets  are  broad,  well  paved  with 
flat  stones,  and  have  a  washed  and  cleanly  look.  The  crowd 
of  people  is  far  less  than  in  the  capital,  and  they  are  not  so 
ragged  and  miserable.  House  rents  are  one-half  or  one-third 
those  of  Mexico,  and  the  dwellings  are  usually  inhabited  by 
one  family ;  but  churches  and  convents  seem  rather  more  plenti 
ful  in  proportion  to  the  inhabitants.  The  friars  are  less  numer 
ous,  and  the  secular  clergy  greater.  A  small  stream  skirts  the 
eastern  side  of  Puebla,  affording  a  large  water-power  for 
manufacturing  purposes.  On  its  banks  a  public  walk  has  been 
planted  with  rows  of  trees,  among  which  the  paths  meander, 
while  a  neat  fountain  throws  up  its  waters  in  the  midst  of  them. 
The  views  from  this  retreat,  in  the  evening,  are  charmingly 
picturesque  over  the  eastern  plain.  On  the  western  side  of 
Puebla  lie  the  extensive  piles  of  buildings,  belonging  to  the 
convent  of  St.  Francis,  situated  opposite  the  entrance  of  the 
ALAMEDA — a  quiet  and  retired  garden  walk  to  which  the 
cavaliers  and  donzellas  retire  before  sun-set,  for  a  drive  in  view 
of  the  volcanoes  of  Istazihautl  and  Popocatapetl,  which  bound 
the  western  prospect  with  their  tops  of  eternal  snow.  Near 
the  centre  of  the  city  is  the  great  square.  It  is  surrounded  on 
two  sides  by  edifices  erected  on  arches,  through  which  the 
population  circulates  as  at  Bologna.  On  the  northern  side  is 
the  palace  of  the  Governor,  now  filled  with  troops  ;  and  directly 
in  front  of  this  is  the  Cathedral,  equal  perhaps  in  size  to  that 
of  Mexico,  but,  being  elevated  upon  a  platform  about  ten  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  square,  it  is  better  relieved  and  stands 
out  from  the  surrounding  buildings  with  more  boldness  and 
grandeur.  This  church  is,  in  its  details  and  arrangements, 
the  most  magnificent  in  the  republic;  and  although  not  desirous 
to  occupy  your  time  with  a  description  of  religious  edifices,  yet, 
with  a  view  of  affording  some  idea  of  the  wealth  of  this  im 
portant  establishment  in  a  country  where  the  priesthood  is  still 
very  powerful,  I  will  venture  to  remark  on  a  few  of  those  objects 
which  strike  the  eye  of  a  transient  traveller.  It  is  about  this 


IN  MEXICO.  101 

Cathedral,  I  am  told,  that  there  is  a  legend  of  Puebla,  which 
states  that  while  in  process  of  building,  it  gained  mysteriously 
in  height  during  the  night  as  much  as  the  masons  had  wrought 
during  the  day.  This  was  said  to  be  the  work  of  Angels,  and 
hence  the  city  has  acquired  the  holy  name  of  "Puebla  de  los 
Angeles."  Be  this,  however,  as  it  may,  the  church,  though 
neither  exactly  worthy  of  divine  conception  and  execution,  nor 
a  miracle  of  art,  is  extremely  tasteful,  and  one  of  the  best 
specimens  of  architecture  I  saw  in  Mexico.  The  material  is 
blue  basalt;  the  stones  are  squared  by  the  chisel;  the  joints 
neatly  pointed ;  and  the  whole  has  the  appearance  of  great 
solidity,  being  supported  by  massive,  buttresses,  and  terminated 
at  the  west  by  lofty  towers,  filled  with  bells  of  sweet  and  varied 
tones'" 

Mr.  Mayer  is  certainly  somewhat  mistaken  in  supposing  the 
Cathedral  at  Puebla  to  be  equal  in  size  to  that  of  the  capital. 
It  may  be  as  large  as  the  principal  apartment  of  the  latter, 
which  contains  the  main  altar  and  choir,  and  which,  one  would 
be  apt  to  think,  on  first  entering  it,  that,  it  constituted  the  whole 
building.  But  it  must  be  remembered,  that  besides  this,  there 
are  thirteen  other  different  chapels,  or  apartments,  for  public 
worship  contained  within  that  vast  pile  of  buildings  constituting 
the  Cathedral  in  the  Grand  Plaza  at  the  city  of  Mexico.  I 
was  informed  that  the  one  at  Puebla,  with  its  furniture,  cost 
fourteen  millions  of  dollars,  while  that  at  the  city  cost  ninety 
millions ;  and  if  this  be  the  case,  it  would  go  far  to  establish 
the  idea  that  there  is  a  very  material  difference  even  in  the  size 
of  the  two  edifices. 

On  entering  the  Cathedral  at  Ruebla,  and  casting  the  eyes 
above,  the  head  becomes  dizzy  from  contemplating  the  immense 
height  of  the  .massive  pillars  that  sustain  and  uphold  the 
spacious  and  lofty  arched  dome  of  the  building,  from  which, 
and  in  the  centre,  is  suspended  the  ponderous  and  magnificent 
chandelier,  a  large  portion  of  which  is  composed  of  unalloyed 
gold  and  silver  and  precious  stones,  and  is  of  several  tons 
weight,  the  immense  cost  of  which  will  be  left  as  a  matter  of 
conjecture,  for  the  benefit  of  the  reader's  own  private  specula 
tion.  The  columns  and  the  altar,  on  particular  occasions,  are 
hung  with  a  rich  flowing  drapery  of  red  silk  velvet,  extending 
from  the  floor  to  the  dome,  presenting  a  spectacle  grand  and 
beautiful  in  the  extreme,  and  which  must  require  several 
thousands  of  yards  of  that  costly  material  to  accomplish.  But 
the  object  which  would  be  most  apt  to  strike  the  attention  and 
win  the  admiration  of  every  beholder  on  first  entering  the  Ca 
thedral,  is  the  full-life-likeness  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  which  stands 


102  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

on  the  righ-.  of  the  altar,  in  ail  its  rich  and  varied  degrees  of 
loveliness  a  nd  attraction.  Her  dress  is  composed  of  the  richest 
silk,  embro-dered  with  threads  of  gold,  with  dependent  "strings 
of  orient  ptarls  at  random  strung," hanging  in  profuse  clusters 
from  the  neck,  and  extending  almost  to  her  feet;  while  on  her 
marble  wh  te  brow  reposes  a  glittering  crown  of  massive  gold, 
studded  with  the  most  precious  stones  of  every  size  and  hue; 
and  round  her  waist  shone  in  dazzling  brilliancy,  a  blazing  zone 
of  diamonds. 

There  is  also,  about  the  altar  and  enclosing  the  platform,  a 
balustrade  or  railing,  (candelabras,)  composed  of  a  compound 
of  silver  an  3  gold,  of  more  than  a  thousand  pounds  weight,  and 
of  remarki-ble  richness  and  brilliancy:  and  which  an  English 
mining  company  proposed  to  replace  with  solid  silver  ot  the 
same  size,  ind  pay  half  a  million  of  dollars  besides.  Just  in 
front  of  the  altar  is  the  burial  place  for  the  Bishops ;  and  I 
noticed  sev  >ral  marble  slabs  laid  upon  a  level  with  the  floor, 
and  enclosed  with  a  lattice  work  of  iron,  upon  which  were  in 
scribed  in  letters  of  gold,  the  epitaphs  of  several  deceased 
Prelates,  \v!iose  silent  remains  repose  beneath,  near  the  sacred 
spot,  and  v\  the  very  building,  where  their  lives  had  been  spent 
in  the  service  of  the  church. 

There  is  something  peculiarly  solemn  and  impressive  in  the 
ceremonies  attending  the  celebration  of  mass  in  the  Roman 
church;  but,  more  especially,  I  think,  in  Catholic  countries, 
where  the  service  is  attended  with  more  pomp  and  array  than 
that  of  the  same  church  in  Protestant  countries.  The  appa 
rent  zeal  and  sincerity,  together  with  the  solemn  and  regular 
uniformity  which  so  strikingly  characterizes  that  ancient  and 
popular  mode  of  worship,  are  apt  to  impress  the  mind  of  the 
beholder  with  feelings  and  sentiments  of  a  serious  and  devo 
tional  chancier.  I  have  entered  the  Cathedral  at  Puebla  on 
a  Sabbath  morning,  and  found  it  crowded  with,  at  least,  five 
thousand  persons,  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  conditions,  from  the 
scarlet-robed  Prelate  to  the  beggar  from  the  streets,  all  on  their 
knees,  with  their  faces  turr&d  in  the  same  direction,  humming 
their  prayers,  or  chanting  the  various  church  services  peculiar 
to  that  order,  with  a  solemn  seriousness,  and  a  becoming  re 
verence,  which  showed  that  each  one  considered  himself  in  the 
house  of  God,  and  in  the  presence  of  some  superior  and  over 
ruling  Power-  J  have  never  yet  entered  one  of  their  churches 
during  the  hours  of  service,  without  having  my  feelings  inspired 
with  a  kind  of  religious  awe,  and  devotional  frame  of  mind, 
which  I  could  not  well  define;  and  I  arn  very  certain  that  I 
never  saw  a  Mexican,  however  low  or  degraded  might  have 


IN  MEXICO.  103 

been  his  condition,  smile  while  in  church,  or  be  guilty  of  any 
impropriety  whatever.  Their  reverence  for  their  churches 
seems  to  approach  almost  to  idolatry;  they  regard  the  very 
portals  as  sacred,  and  never  by  any  means  pass  one  while  the 
doors  are  open,  without  meekly  pulling  off  their  hats  and  carry 
ing  them  in  their  hands  till  they  are  completely  beyond  it.  It 
is  not  for  me  to  say  how  much  irregularity  may  mark  their 
conduct  while  in  the  street,  or  at  their  daily  occupations,  yet 
when  they  enter  the  churches  they  lay  aside  their  levity  and 
lightness  and  put  on  the  saint,  and  act  it  out  with  that  dignity 
and  Christian  decorum  which  they  scrupulously  observe,  and 
never  violate  after  passing  the  sacred  threshold.  I  have  seen 
little  children,  who  were  scarcely  large  enough  to  follow  their 
mothers  to  church,  cross  themselves  at  the  door  with  the  sania 
agua,  and  then  kneel  and  cross  themselves  again,  and  go 
through  all  the  ceremonies,  as  correctly  and  with  as  much  devo 
tion  and  solemnity  as  those  of  maturer  years. 

I  think  a  strict  adherence  to  all  the  rules  and  regulations  of 
this  church  would  have  a  manifest  tendency  to  promote  early 
rising,  as  well  as  active  business  habits,  as  I  remember  often 
to  have  seen  the  bright-eyed  Senoras  and  Senoritas  tripping 
to  church  before  sun-rise,  with  their  blooming  morning  faces, 
and  quick  and  jaunty  steps,  hastening  to  greet  the  first  mild 
beams  of  the  King  of  day,  upon  their  knees  before  the  sacred 
altar.  How  true  is  that  beautiful  sentiment,  that  if  religion 
was  banished  from  the  world,  its  last  fortification  would  be 
woman's  heart?  I  noticed  the  perfectly  democratic  principles 
which  the  Catholic  mode  of  worship  recognizes  in  that  country, 
and  the  perfect  levelling  system  which  it  fosters  and  inculcates 
in  all  its  departments,  except  the  priestly  office.  I  have  often 
seen  the  proudest  and  fairest  donnas,  who  could  boast  the  blood 
of  Castile's  ancient  line,  dressed  in  the  richest  silks  and  laces, 
and  sparkling  in  gold  and  diamonds,  kneeling  side  by  side, 
their  garments  touching,  with  the  filthy  lepero,  who  begged  the 
scanty  pittance  that  sustained  life,  or  cleaned  the  streets  for  the 
consideration  of  a  few  coppers,  with  scarcely  rags  enough  to 
cover  his  nakedness. 

It  is  said  that  the  city  of  Puebla  alone  contains  seventy-two 
churches,  thirty  colleges  and  convents,  and  seventeen  hundred 
monks,  priests,  and  friars,  with  all  the  ordinary  appurtenances 
of  the  retinue  of  that  ancient  and  holy  order.  I  think  the  gen 
eral  average  of  bells  is  about  twelve  to  a  church,  with  some 
ranging  as  high  as  forty-eight,  and  at  times  it  appears  that,  they 
are  all  ringing  at  once.  Every  toll  of  bells  has  a  particular 
meaning,  which  is  perfectly  understood  by  the  citizens,  from 


104 

"the  oldest  inhabitant"  down  to  the  child  of  five  years  old. 
Sometimes  they  will  stop  in  the  street  and  cross  themselves;  at 
other  times,  at  the  single  toll  of  a  particular  bell,  the  whole 
population  will  fall  upon  their  knees,  and  remain  in  that  posi 
tion  for  about  a  minute,  when  the  same  bell  will  toll  again,  at 
which  they  will  all  rise  at  the  same  instant,  and  go  about  their 
various  occupations.  I  have  been  in  the  crowded  market, 
where  thousands  upon  thousands  were  busily  engaged  in  buying 
and  selling,  and  arranging  their  articles  of  merchandize,  min 
gled  with  a  hum  of  voices  that  almost  pained  the  ear  with  its 
thousand  blended  tones,  when  the  bell  would  loll  the  hour  for 
prayer,  and  in  an  instant  every  soul  in  that  vast  concourse 
would  be  upon  their  knees,  and  not  a  whisper  heard,  but  all  as 
still  and  silent  as  the  house  of  death.  I  happened  to  be  passing 
a  street  near  the  Grand  Plaza  one  day,  when  my  attention  was 
arrested  by  a  couple  of  arrieros,  who  were  earnestly  engaged 
in  a  hand-to-hand  fight  just  across  the  way.  Curiosity  prompted 
me  to  stop  and  see  it  out,  but  just  as  the  engagement  was  be 
coming  serious,  and  the  combatants  were  planting  their  blows 
thick  and  fast  near  the  tenderest  and  most  vulnerable  points, 
the  sanla  campana  oration,  or  holy  bell  of  prayer,  tolled  the 
hour  of  devotion ;  warned  by  its  solemn  sound,  the  two  bellige 
rent  parties  instantly  stopped,  as  if  by  common  consent,  and 
fell  upon  their  knees,  where  they  remained  in  a  devotional 
attitude  till  the  second  toll,  when  they  arose  and  finished  the 
fight.  I  thought  this  about  as  strong  an  example  of  the  force  of 
habit  as  I  had  ever  had  the  pleasure  of  witnessing,  for  it  was  not 
probable  that  it  could  have  been  the  force  of  religious  obligation. 
The  cemetery,  or  public  burying  ground  at  Puebla,  is  situated 
in  a  beautiful  secluded  spot,  on  the  southern  suburbs  of  the  city, 
and  is  well  worthy  a  place  in  the  folio  of  every  traveller.  It  is 
surrounded,  or  rather  composed,  of  a  substantial  and  beautiful 
brick  wall  about  fifteen  feet  high,  and  encloses  about  five  acres 
of  ground,  which  is  most  tastefully  laid  off  in  walks,  and 
planted  with  flowers  and  shrubbery  of  almost  endless  variety. 
The  walls  are  about  ten  feet  thick,  on  the  inside  of  which  are 
formed  shelves  or  holes,  ranging  one  above  another  for  five 
deep,  the  two  upper  tier*or  rows  are  made  short,  for  the  purpose 
of  fitting  the  coffins  of  young  children  and  infants.  The  cavi 
ties  in  the  wall  are  formed  in  the  shape  of  a  coffin,  and  just  the 
proper  length,  in  which  it  is  inserted  with  the  foot  foremost,  and 
the  head  fronting  the  inside.  The  apperture  at  the  head  is  then 
closed  by  a  small  block  of  wood,  stone,  or  marble,  according  to 
the  wealth,  grade,  or  standing  of  the  deceased,  on  which  are 
engraved  the  epitaphs.  Here  perhaps  may  rest  the  dead  of 


IN  MEXICO.  105 

past  centuries,  and  here,  the  generations  of  future  ages  may 
come  to  lay  their  bones,  in  this  colossal  mausoleum,  where 
thousands  sleep  together  in  death  who  never  met  in  life, 

«'Tia  here  all  meet, 

The  shivering  Icelander,  and  the  sun-burnt  Moor; 

Men  of  all  climes  that  never  met  before; 

And  of  all  creeds,  the  Jew,  the  Turk,  the  Christian. 

Here  friends  and  foes 

Lie  close,  unmindful  of  their  former  fueds. 
The  lawn-robed  prelate,  and  plain  presbyter, 
Ere  while  they  stood  aloof  as  shy  to  meet, 
Familiar  mingle,  here,  like  sister  streams, 
That  some  rude  interposing  rock  had  split." 

The  market  is  a  place  of  sufficient  curiosity  to  attract  the 
attention  of  a  foreigner,  as  he  will  there  find,  in  the  greatest 
profusion,  every  thing  that  the  country  produces,  from  a  cocoa 
nut  to  a  carrot.  It  occupies  that  portion  of  the  Grand  Piaza 
which  lies  east  of  the  Cathedral,  and  covers  about  one  half  of 
the  public  square.  Here  the  market  women  collect  at  about 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  remain  frequently  till  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  where  they  offer  for  sale  every  kind  of  meats, 
soups,  fruits  and  vegetables,  with  almost  every  thing  else  in  the 
line  of  eatables,  that  the  mind  of  man  can  conceive.  They 
erect  small  portable  booths  hi  the  market  square  for  the  pur 
pose  of  protecting  their  persons  and  merchandize  from  the  sun 
and  rain  ;  and  at  night  they  light  the  market  with  torches  of  fat 
pine,  which  are  kindled  upon  elevated  platforms,  or  held  or  car- 
ried,  as  the  case  may  be,  by  crowds  of  muchachos,  who  swarm 
the  streets  by  day  and  night  in  quest  of  any  employment  which 
may  bring  them  a  few  tlacos. 

It  is  very  pleasant,  though  not  altogether  safe,  to  take  a  stroll 
in  the  plaza  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  which,  at  that 
hour,  presents  quite  a  beautiful  and  picturesque  appearance. 
The  market  fires  are  all  lighted,  and  throwing  their  lurid  and 
flickering  glare  upon  the  particolored  and  unique  costumes  of 
the  peasantry,  who  always  attend  in  great  crowds,  either  as 
vendors  or  vendees,  besides  a  host  of  idle  loafers,  and  gentlemen 
of  elegant  leisure,  who  generally  congregate  about  the  market 
at  that  hour,  as  a  place  of  general  rendezvous,  before  com 
mencing  their  nightly  carousal.  Those  of  the  latter  class  are 
generally  habited  in  their  gayest  and  most  showy  habilaments, 
with  their  large  heavy  zarapes  thrown  carelessly  about  their 
shoulders,  and  completely  enveloping  the  breast  and  arms,  and 
beneath  which  they  are  in  the  habit  of  concealing  whatever 
little  articles  they  may  illegally  pick  up  about  the  market  or 


106 

elsewhere.  I  have  known  them,  in  cases  of  extreme  neces 
sity,  to  carry  a  full  grown  sheep  beneath  their  blankets  through 
the  crowded  streets,  without  detection.  Their  sombreros  (hats) 
are  very  heavy,  being  made  of  straw  or  wool,  and  covered  with 
a  thick  glossy  oil-cloth,  which  renders  them  perfectly  water 
proof;  they  use,  as  a  substitute  for  a  band,  two  rolls  about,  the 
size  of  a  man's  finger,  which  is  covered  with  a  kind  of  silver 
lace,  and  tied  at  the  ends  with  green  or  blue  ribbon;  they  also 
use  two  silver  plates,  one  on  each  side  of  the  hat,  about  the 
size  of  a  quarter  of  a  dollar,  with  tassels  or  tags  of  the  same 
material  depending.  Their  pantaloons  are  frequently  made  of 
black  velvet,  with  the  legs  open  to  the  knee,  and  very  often  to 
the  hip,  and  ornamented  with  rows  of  silver  bullet  buttons,  sus 
pended  by  links  of  the  same  material;  they  use  no  suspenders, 
but  in  lieu  of  them,  a  red  silk  or  cotton  sash  is  worn  tightly 
about  the  waist,  the  ends  of  which  hang  suspended  from  each 
hip.  They  also  wear  large  cotton  or  linen  drawers  of  snowy 
whiteness  and  hug?  dimensions,  and  it.  is  bard  to  tell,  at  a  short 
distance,  which  is  the  nether  garment.  The  most  ordinary 
comestibles  that  are  sold  in  the  market  are  the  frijoles,  or 
boiled  beans,  and  tortillas,  which  are  a  kind  of  corn  pancake 
without  salt  or  seasoning  of  any  kind,  and  chile  soup,  which  is 
made  principally  of  red-pepper,  boiled  with  beef  or  mutton;  the 
pepper  makes  it  look  as  red  as  wine,  and  although  rather  hot 
for  uninitiated  palates,  yet  it  is  quite  a  savory  dish  when  one 
becomes  accustomed  to  it.  The  tortilla  is  made  of  corn  soaked 
in  warm  water  impregnated  with  lye,  until  it  becomes  soft, 
when  it  is  ground  by  the  women  upon  a  hand  mill,  which  pro 
cess,  instead  of  making  meal,  forms  it  into  a  lump  of  dough;  it 
is  then  made  into  thin  cakes,  and  baked  in  a  large  earthen  pan 
or  ladle  made  for  the  purpose. 

A  large  portion  of  the  lower  classes  take  their  meals  regu 
larly  in  the  market.  A  glass  of  pulque,  half  a  dozen  tortillas, 
and  a  plate  of  chile  soup,  taken  twice  a  day,  is  quite  enough 
for  them,  and  are  the  greatest  luxuries  of  which  they  have  any 
conception;  and  with  a  few  tlacos  worth  of  each  daily,  they  are 
happy  and  contented.  Spoons  are  by  no  means  in  common  use, 
and  what  few  they  have  are  rough  wooden  ones ;  but  as  a  sub 
stitute  for  these  indispensable  articles  of  kitchen  furniture,  they 
break,  or  rather  tear  off  a  small  piece  of  tortilla,  and  twisting 
it  up  in  the  shape  of  a  spoon,  dip  it  full  of  chile  and  swallow 
spoon  and  all  together;  the  same  process  is  repeated  every 
mouthful  until  the  repast  is  finished.  I  have  frequently  seen 
whole  families,  consisting  of  some  eight  or  ten  persons,  sitting 
on  the  pavement  round  a  bowl  of  chile,  with  their  frijoles,  tor* 


IN  MEXICO.  107 

tillas,  and  pulque,  making  a  most  hearty  and  luxurious  meal, 
•which,  when  finished,  they  \vould  rise  up,  and  with  a  significant 
grunt  of  pleasure  and  satisfaction,  would  separate,  and  each 
one  go  about  his  daily  avocation. 

I  have  very  frequently,  by  invitation,  taken  a  seat  on  the 
ground  with  them  and  shared  their  frugal  repast,  which  they 
never  fail  to  divide  with  great  liberality,  giving  the  stranger 
the  preference  in  every  thing.  1  have  often  enjoyed  those 
"accidental  lent  dinners"  very  much,  seated  the  while  beside 
mine  host's  dark-eyed  daughter,  who  always  divided  her  last 
tortilla  con  mucha  gusto,  with  her  extrangero  ami  go,  (strange 
friend).  I  always  left  with  many  attestations  of  thankfulness, 
but  never  without  shaking  hands  with  the  whole  group,  which 
it  would  have  been  unpardonable  not  to  do. 

When  they  butcher  a  hog,  beef,  or  mutton  for  market,  they 
never  throw  away  one  particle  of  flesh,  but  carefully  husband 
the  whole  of  it.  I  have  seen  even  the  hoofs,  horns,  and  entrails, 
and  sometimes  the  naked  bones,  exposed  for  sale.  From  sun 
rise  in  the  morning  till  about  nine  o'clock,  you  will  find,  at 
almost  every  street,  and  corner,  a  woman  or  girl  with  ajar  of 
atole,  which  is  a  kind  of  gruel  or  tasteless  soup,  thickened  with 
pulverized  rice,  without  salt  or  seasoning  of  any  kind,  which 
the  Mexicans  all  seem  very  fond  of,  and  which  is  sold  at  about 
a  tlaci  a  pint.  It  is  considered  a  very  wholesome  diet  among 
the  Mexicans,  and  is  made  chiefly  for  the  lower  classes,  who 
are  not  able  to  afford  dulce  pan  (sweet  cakes)  and  chocolate, 
which  the  more  fashionable  generally  take  in  the  morning  be- 
fore  leaving  their  rooms.  The  atole  and  chocolate  answer  the 
purpose,  with  them,  ot  what  we  call  early  breakfast,  and  then 
they  take  no  further  nourishment  till  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock, 
when  they  have  something  more  substantial,  including  meats, 
vegetables,  &c.;  but  even  these  are  partaken  of  in  very  small 
quantities;  and  I  have  often  thought  that  people  of  this  country 
would  starve  on  the  very  limited  allowance  which  a  Mexican 
can  subsist  upon  and  have  plenty.  They  are  generally  very 
careful  of  their  health,  and  subsist  mostly  on  those  diets,  how 
ever  unpleasant  to  the  taste,  which  Ihey  conceive  tend  more 
directly  to  promote  it.  The  atole,  for  instance,  is  considered  an 
antidote  as  well  as  a  preventive  of  almost  every  disease,  and 
hence  its  common  use,  for  I  am  sure  Ihey  could  not  be  induced 
to  use  it  from  any  delightful  flavor  which  it  possesses.  And  so 
of  the  chile  soup,  pulque,  pepper,  garlic,  and  onions,  all  of 
which  are  considered  great  preservatives  ot  health,  and  hence 
they  are  used  to  the  exclusion  of  greater  delicacies. 

The  Mexicans  appear  to  possess  a  kind  of  innate  politeness 


108  SCOTT*S    CAMPAIGN 

and  suavity  of  manners,  which  even  the  lower  classes  never 
compromise  or  forget  on  any  occasion.  If  you  meet  a  friend  in 
the  street,  with  whom  you  may  have  had  the  pleasure  of  a  short 
acquaintance,  he  approaches  you  with  his  hat  off,  a  friendly 
smile  upon  his  countenance,  and  his  right  hand  extended  for 
the  purpose  of  a  friendly  shake.  He  will  often  take  your  hand 
between  both  of  his,  and  give  it  a  most  Platonic  squeeze,  all 
the  time  muttering  his  familiar  salutation,  come  listed  caballero, 
buenos  dius,  &c.,  and  not  (infrequently  he  will  throw  his  arms 
about  your  neck,  and  give  you  a  close  embrace;  but  such 
friendly  demonstrations  as  those  must  generally  be  warranted 
by  a  somewhat  protracted  and  intimate  acquaintance.  I  re 
member,  while  spending  a  day  in  the  city  of  Puebla  on  the 
way  of  our  return  to  the  States,  that  I  happened  to  step  into  a 
pulque  shop  where  I  had  been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  very  fre 
quently  during  my  former  stay  at  that  place  ;  as  soon  as  I  enter 
ed,  the  fair  proprietress  of  the  shop  instantly  recognized  me  as 
one  of  her  former  customers  and  friends,  and  rushed  towards 
me  with  outstretched  arms,  exclaiming  at  the  same  time,  "es 
mio  amigo  viviente,"  (is  my  friend  yet  living!)  and  saluted  me 
with  a  friendly  embrace,  and  a  kind  of  sisterly  beso,  which  she 
kindly  imprinted  upon  my  cheek.  Such  demonstrations  of  polite 
friendship  as  this  would  probably  have  been  considered  particu 
larly  awkward,  if  not  ridiculous,  in  any  of  our  fashionable  cities 
at  home,  but  such  things  are  looked  upon  there  as  occurring  in 
the  ordinary  course  of  human  events.  And  although  this  inter 
view,  which  I  was  disposed  to  look  upon  as  rather  affectionately 
unique,  took  place  in  the  midst  of  a  crowded  room,  yet  it  did 
not  attract  attention,  and  it  was  not  noticed  as  any  thing  out  of 
the  ordinary  course  of  things.  Of  course  I  returned  the  kind 
senora's  very  flattering  manifestations  of  distinguished  regard, 
including  the  embrace  and  the  kiss  too;  if  I  had  not,  it  would 
have  been  considered  as  extremely  rude  in  me,  and  perhaps  my 
impoliteness  would  have  deprived  me  of  the  pleasure  of  being 
so  hospitably  received  in  the  future.  . 

I  have  seen  large  heaps  of  shelled  corn  exposed  in  the  market 
for  sale,  some  of  the  piles  would  be  composed  entirely  of  white 
corn,  some  of  red,  some  yellow,  and  some  blue,  but  not  a  grain 
of  the  different  kinds  were  mixed,  near  which  vendors  were 
seated  with  small  measures  in  their  hands,  and  from  whom  you 
could  purchase  any  amount,  from  a  pint  to  a  bushel,  or  even  a 
barrel.  On  Sundays  the  markets  are  much  more  numerously 
attended,  the  rancheros  coming  in  from  the  country  on  that  day, 
from  ten  to  fifteen,  and  even  twenty  miles,  bringing  with  them 
on  their  backs  and  on  packed  mules,  the  products  of  their  farms, 


IN  MEXICO.  109 

dairies,  gardens,  and  poultry  yards,  which  they  generally  sell 
at  very  high  prices.  I  have  known  them  to  sell  butter  at  a 
dollar  and  a  quarter  a  pound,  and  chickens  at  seventy-five  cents 
each. 

The  most  valuable  coin  known  among  the  circulating  medium 
of  Mexico,  is  the  Spanish  doubloon,  which  is  worth  about 
fifteen  dollars,  and  the  smallest  is  the  tlaco,  which  is  worth 
about  one  and  a  half  of  our  copper  cents ;  the  next  in  size  is 
the  ?nedio,  which  is  four  tlacos,  and  answers  to  our  six  and  a 
quarter  cents  ;  the  next  is  the  real,  which  is  worth  eight  tlacos, 
and  answers  to  our  twelve  and  a  half  cents ;  and  the  balance  of 
the  dollar  is  counted  by  dos  reales,  ires  reales,  quatro  reales, 
&c.  The  copper  coin,  or  tlaco,  is  of  very  great  advantage  to 
Mexican  trade,  and  could  not  now  be  easily  dispensed  with ; 
without  it,  the  large  and  extensive  revenue  derived  from  the 
retail  of  pulque  would  be,  in  a  great  measure,  lost  to  the 
country,  because  a  quartillo's  worth,  which  is  the  next  smallest 
coin,  would  buy  more  than  a  man  would  wish  to  drink  at  once, 
consequently  the  retail  price  would  have  to  be  raised,  or  the 
extensive  sale  of  that  popular  and  nourishing  drink  be  very 
much  curtailed.  But  this  is  only  one  instance  which  is  brought 
to  prove  the  immense  value  of  the  t  aco;  many  others  might  be 
mentioned ;  almost  every  article  that  is  sold  in  the  market,  and 
a  great  many  in  the  smaller  shops  and  stores,  can  be  bought  in 
quantities  of  a  tlaco's  worth,  and  hence  the  poor  lepero  who 
brings  his  produce  to  market  and  sells  it  for  a  few  coppers,  can 
spend  them  and  supply  his  wants,  and  thereby  contribute  his 
mite  to  the  revenues  of  the  country. 

It  is  not  at  all  unfrequent  for  a  senor  to  pawn  his  zerape,  or  a 
senora  her  reboza,  for  a  glass  of  pulque,  when  they  do  not 
happen  to  have  the  necessary  amount  of  dinero  about  them, 
and  return  the  next  day  and  redeem  them,  as  the  credit  system 
is  unknown  in  Mexico,  and  the  money  or  its  equivalent  has 
always  to  be  advanced  upon  the  spot.  There  were  some  few 
instances  in  which  the  benefit  of  credit  was  extended  to  the 
soldiers  of  the  American  army  by  Mexican  merchants,  and  I 
am  happy  to  say  that  the  confidence  thus  reposed  in  them  was 
never  betrayed,  but  in  every  instance  was  sustained  by  prompt 
and  regular  payment,  which  was  noticed  and  appreciated  by 
the  merchants  thus  indulging  them.  I  think  the  Mexican  mer 
chants  and  clerks  excel  those  of  almost  any  other  country,  in 
active  and  energetic  business  habits ;  they  seem  to  be  com 
pletely  master  of  every  department  of  mercantile  affairs,  which, 
when  blended  with  their  extremely  kind,  sociable,  and  accom 
modating  manners,  renders  it  a  peculiar  pleasure  to  deal  with 


110 

them.  It  is  impossible  to  Jew  them ;  if  you  do  not  conclude 
to  pay  the  price  they  ask,  you  had  as  well  leave  the  store  at 
once,  for  they  generally  ask  just  what  they  intend  to  take,  and 
nothing  more ;  and  the  price  of  every  thing  seems  to  be  so 
uniformly  established,  and  so  well  known  by  the  trading  part  of 
the  community,  that  they  frequently  throw  down  the  money 
upon  the  counter  before  calling  for  the  article.  These  remarks 
refer  more  particularly  to  the  larger  stores,  and  more  extensive 
mercantile  establishments  ;  for  in  the  market  and  in  the  smaller 
shops  they  frequently  ask  exhorbitant  prices,  and  can  be  beat 
down  by  the  purchasers,  as  they  are  generally  compelled  to  sell 
their  merchandize  for  what  it  will  bring. 

The  store  rooms  of  even  the  finest  establishments  are  gen 
erally  small,  not  being  more  than  one  half  as  large  as  is  com 
mon  in  this  country;  but  the  shelves  are  always  well  filled  with 
the  finest  and  most  costly  materials,  the  sale  of  which  is  greatly 
facilitated  by  the  rich  and  extravagant  style  of  dress  that  uni 
versally  obtains  among  the  higher  classes.  Lady  clerks  and 
merchants  are  not  at  all  uncommon ;  the  smaller  stores  and 
shops  being  almost  entirely  managed  by  them,  and  very  often 
you  will  find  them  behind  the  counters  of  the  more  extensive 
establishments,  and  whose  sparkling  eyes  and  winning  smiles 
gain  many  a  valuable  customer,  and  add  wings  to  the  sale  of 
silks,  satins,  and  laces.  The  families  of  the  better  classes 
generally  reside  on  the  second  floor,  while  the  basement  rooms 
are  occupied  as  shops  and  stores  ;  and  where  the  house  consists 
of  but  one  story,  the  family  occupies  the  back  room,  or  ante 
chamber,  from  which  they  pass  through  the  store  room  into  the 
street,  and  which  would  be  considered  in  this  country  a  matter 
of  great  trouble  and  inconvenience,  but  with  them  it  is  decidedly 
a  convenient  position,  as  the  wife  or  daughter,  as  the  case  may 
be,  can  attend  to  her  household  affairs  in  the  parlor  and  watch 
the  store  at  the  same  time. 

I  not  only  learned  from  reliable  sources,  but  became  satisfied 
of  the  fact  from  my  own  observation,  that  the  occupation  of  a 
druggist  is  the  most  lucrative  employment  that  can  be  followed 
in  the  towns  and  larger  cities  of  Mexico.  There  is  less  com 
petition  in  this,  than  in  almost  any  other  branch  of  business, 
which,  when  combined  with  the  very  high  prices,  and  rapidly 
increasing  demand  for  drugs,  renders  it  a  safe  investment  for 
capital,  and  a  sure  and  speedy  mode  of  accumulating  large  pro 
fits.  It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  see  the  large  and  extensive 
drug  establishments,  both  in  Puebla  and  the  city  of  Mexico, 
perfectly  crowded  from  morning  till  night,  by  every  class  of 
citizens,  all  waiting  anxiously  for  their  turn  to  be  served,  while 


IN  MEXICO.  Ill 

six  or  eight  clerks  are  busily  employed  in  distributing  the  all- 
healing  sanitive  to  the  variously  afflicted  multitude.  It  appears 
like  almost  every  person  in  Mexico  takes  medicine  in  some 
way  or  other,  either  as  a  preventive  or  a  cure  for  the  many 
accumulating  diseases  of  that  tropical  climate,  and  yet  they  are 
excessively  careful  of  their  health,  and  their  bills  of  mortality 
comparatively  small. 

Crowds  of  Indian  girls  throng  the  streets  and  markets  daily 
from  the  surrounding  country,  bringing  baskets  of  pandamice 
(corn  cakes)  for  sale,  which  they  carry  on  their  backs,  and  are 
confined  by  a  strap,  which  passes  over  the  head  or  round  the 
neck  and  shoulders.  When  passing  to  and  from  market,  they 
never  walk,  but  always  move  in  a  kind  of  turkey-trot,  and  can 
generally  make  better  speed  than  an  ordinary  travelling  horse; 
and  when  carrying  burdens,  they  incline  the  body  forward  in  a 
stooping  positiogn,  sometimes  bowed  almost  to  the  ground. 
Their  dress  is  frequently  composed  of  one  single  garment,  and 
that  only  extends  from  the  waist  to  the  knees;  sometimes  the 
chemise  and  reboza  would  supply  the  deficiency,  but  it  is  not  at 
all  uncommon  to  see  them  without  either.  They  sit  in  rows  on 
the  sides,  and  at  the  corners  of  the  street,  during  the  day,  and 
cry  their  cakes  to  the  passers  by  in  a  kind  of  song  or  whining 
doggerel,  without  one  moment's  intermission,  until  their  stock 
is  expended;  they  then  take  the  proceeds  of  the  day's  sale  and 
buy  a  glass  of  mescal  (brandy,)  some  pulque,  chile  soup,  and  a 
few  candles,  and  then  slinging  their  empty  baskets  about  their 
shoulders,  they  set  out  for  their  miserable  huts  in  the  mountains, 
where,  by  the  light  of  their  candles,  and  the  exhilerating  effects 
of  the  mescal,  they  spend  the  night  in  preparing  their  bread  for 
the  next  day's  market.  And  yet  amid  ail  this  perpetual  round 
of  hard  and  incessant  labor,  which  yields  them  barely  a  sub- 
sistence,  combined  with  the  most  squalid  poverty,  they  seem 
happy  and  contented,  and  chatter  and  laugh,  and  sing  their 
evening  songs,  while  journeying  homewards  and  thinking  over 
the  proceeds  of  the  morrow's  sale  of  pandamice.  And  I  am 
bound  to  believe  that  there  is  more  happiness  and  contentment 
among  the  Mexican  peasantry  than  those  of  the  same  condition 
in  any  other  country  in  the  world.  Living  as  they  do,  in  a 
country  which  is  free  alike  from  the  scorching  heats  of  summer 
and  the  rigorous  snows  of  winter,  rendering  shelter  or  clothing 
scarcely  necessary,  while  the  spontaneous  productions  of  that 
most  fertile  of  all  countries,  are  almost  sufficient  to  supply  the 
wants  of  the  population,  who  have  not  a  single  wish  or  aspira 
tion  beyond  the  very  limited  sphere  of  their  own  immediate 

necessities. 

- 


112  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

Two  of  the  most  marked  peculiarities  which  distinguish  the 
dress  of  the  Mexican  ladies  of  all  classes,  and  from  which  they 
are  never  known  to  depart,  are,  that  they  never  wear  bonnets 
or  have  sleeves  in  their  dresses;  their  plump  and  well-formed 
arms  are  considered  a  very  great  addition  to  their  beauty,  and 
are  always  naked  unless  covered  by  the  shawl  orrezoba.  But 
in  order  to  see  every  beauty  and  charm  they  posses*,  including 
face,  feature,  form,  and  figure,  all  displayed  to  the  best  advant 
age,  you  must  see  one  of  Aztec's  dark-eyed  daughters,  or  a 
blooming  maid  of  Castile,  on  her  gaily  caparisoned  mustang, 
and  habited  in  a  complete  riding  dress,  the  rich  flowing  folds  of 
which  almost  sweep  the  ground,  with  cap  and  plume,  and 
accompanied  by  a  dashing  young  cabellero,  taking  an  evening 
ride  along  the  clattering  street,  or  galloping  over  the  Paseo  or 
Alameda,  with  her  dark  eyes  flashing  with  excitement,  and  her 
ribbons  and  waving  plumes  fluttering  in  the  .air.  It  is  then 
that  her  charms  are  irresistible,  and  all  the  innate  perfection  of 
her  loveliness  is  displayed  to  an  extent  that  makes  one  feel 
vexed  and  disappointed  because  he  does  not  understand  enough 
of  her  own  native  dialect  to  enjoy  to  the  fullest  extent  the  plea 
sures  of  her  thrilling  society,  and  whisper,  in  her  vernacular 
tongue,  the  soft  low  tones  of  love's  own  language. 

The  horsemen  frequently  carry  their  equestrian  exploits  far 
beyond  what  would  be  tolerated  in  this  country.  I  have  often 
seen  Ihem  spur  their  fiery  coursers  into  the  stores  and  shops, 
and  rein  them  up  and  down  the  room  before  the  counter  to  the 
imminent  danger  of  the  less  fortunate  pedestrians,  whose  cir 
cumstances  compelled  them  to  do  their  shopping  on  foot,  and 
after  purchasing  what  they  desired,  would  wheel  their  horses  ' 
head  to  the  door  and  ride  out.  It  is  nothing  uncommon  to  see 
three  or  four  horsemen  in  the  same  store,  and  the  ladies  who 
might  chance  to  be  in  at  the  same  time  Ivould  have  to  huddle 
together  in  a  corner,  or  jump  up  on  the  counter  to  get  out  of  the 
danger  of  the  horses  feet.  I  should  consider  this  a  case  of 
riding  rough-shod  over  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  well- 
disposed,  sober-minded  portion  of  the  community. 

From  the  very  circumscribed  dimensions  of  their  store  rooms, 
they  are  enabled  to  crowd  a  great  many  of  them  together  in  a 
very  small  place.  I  think  I  have  seen  not  less  than  a  dozen 
fronting  the  street  on  one  side  of  an  ordinary  square,  and  pro 
bably  there  were  as  many  more  on  each  of  the  other  three 
sides.  Many  of  these  stores  you  will  find  filled  with  sombreros 
(hats)  and  nothing  else  ;  others  are  crammed  to  the  ceiling  with 
shoes;  and  it  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  sec  large  stores  with 
every  shelf  packed  and  crowded  with  cigarritos  (paper  cigars,) 


IN  MEXICO.  113 

and  some  even  with  brushes,  and  others  with  brooms ;  they 
seem  to  have  a  particular  antipathy  to  mixing  their  articles  of 
merchandize,  and  are  inclined  to  give  their  whole  attention  to 
one  branch  of  business  at  a  time. 

I  have  occasionally  seen  small  quantities  of  seed  cotton 
exposed  for  sale  in  the  stores,  which  was  retailed  at  forty  cents 
per  pound;  the  merchants  keep  it  on  their  shelves  and  weigh 
it  out  to  purchasers  in  the  same  scales  that  they  weigh  pepper, 
tea  and  coffee ;  the  largest  bulk  I  ever  saw  in  one  store  1  do 
not  think  could  have  exceeded  fifteen  pounds;  this  incident  may 
go  to  show  the  value  and  scarcity  of  that  article  in  Mexico. 
Tobacco  is  also  very  scarce,  and  prices  enormously  high, 
which  is  occasioned  by  the  exceedingly  high  tax  which  is  paid 
for  the  privilege  of  raising  and  selling  it.  This,  like  many 
other  articles  of  commerce,  is  a  government  monopoly,  and 
the  privilege  of  dealing  in  it  can  only  be  granted  to  individuals 
or  corporate  bodies,  by  their  paying  the  most  enormous  tariff. 

Puros  (cigars)  and  cigarritos,  are  in  universal  use  among 
men,  women  and  children;  but  the  former  are  composed  of  a 
very  inferior  article  of  tobacco;  and  the  cigarritos^  which  are 
used  mostly  by  the  ladies,  are  made  of  a  better  article  of  tobacco 
than  the  puros,  which  is  cut  almost  as  fine  as  snuff,  and  confined 
in  paper  wrappers;  the  latter  kind  are  also  generally  preferred 
by  the  gentlemen.  Notwithstanding  the  universal  practice  of 
smoking  which  prevails  to  such  an  extent  in  every  part  of 
Mexico,  and  among  all  classes,  yet  I  never  knew  a  Mexican  to 
chew  tobacco,  or  even  heard  of  such  a  thing;  and  my  impres 
sion  is,  that  it  is  a  practice  entirely  unknown  among  native 
Mexicans  throughout  the  republic.  In  smoking,  all  the  Mexi 
cans  exhale  the  smoke  through  the  nose,  a  habit  which  they 
believe  to  be  quite  conducive  to  health. 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  site  of  the  once  powerful  and  populous  city  of  Chol.ula 
is  situated  about  five  miles  beyond  the  western  gate  of  the  city 
of  Puebla,  and  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  national  road  leading 
towards  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  from  which  a  very  fine  view  of 
the  pyramid  may  be  had.  This  city,  in  the  days  of  its  glory 
and  grandeur,  has  been  very  beautifully  and  minutely  described 
by  a  number  of  writers  on  the  early  history  of  that  country, 
among  whom  stands  conspicuous  Cortez,  Clavijero,  and  Bernal 
Dias,  copious  translations  from  all  of  whose  works  have  been 


114  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

furnished  by  modern  historians.  In  the  days  of  Cortez  this 
was  an  extensive  and  populous  city,  numbering  not  less  than 
forty  thousand  buildings,  including  those  of  the  city  and  its 
suburbs,  and  was  represented  as  being  famous  for  the  manu 
facture  of  various  kinds  ol  the  finest  wares,  including  crockery 
ware  and  earthen  vessels  of  all  kinds,  most  of  which  articles, 
and  of  quite  a  superior  quality,  are  now  manufactured  in  the 
city  of  Puebla. 

The  wealth  and  population  of  the  ancient  and  wonderful  city 
of  Cholula,  justified  the  erection  of  no  less  than  four  hundred 
temples  for  idolatrous  worship,  the  towers  of  which  Cortez 
informs  us  that  he  counted  at  one  view,  from  an  eminence  that 
overlooked  the  city.  There  is  now  only  a  few  broken  columns 
and  ruined  walls,  with  here  and  there  a  shepherd's  hut,  left,  to 
tell  where  that  ancient  and  mighty  city  once  stood,  in  all  its 
splendor  and  magnificence,  when  its  streets  were  trod  by  hostile 
thousands,  and  the  tramp  of  the  war-horse  thundered  along  its 
crowded  thoroughfares.  "Not  a  vestige,"  says  Thompson, 
"  literally  none — not  a  brick  or  stone  standing  upon  another, 
remains  of  this  immense  city,  except  the  grand  pyramid,  which 
still  stands  in  gloomy  and  solitary  grandeur,  in  the  vast  plain 
which  surrounds  it."  It  was  here  that  the  bloody  and  fearful 
massacre  was  committed  by  Cortez,  which  almost  laid  waste 
the  streets  of  Cholula,  and  well  nigh  depopulated  that  beautiful 
and  thriving  city,  and  which  is  thought  to  have  left  a  stain  upon 
the  otherwise  untarnished  escutcheon  of  its  brave  and  distin 
guished  perpetrator.  But  he  alone,  assisted  by  only  about  five 
hundred  Spanish  warriors,  could  never  have  effected  such  a 
wonderful  and  daring  exploit,  but  for  the  aid  of  his  Tlascalan 
allies,  who  rushed  into  the  city  by  thousands  and  engaged  in 
one  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  all  they  met,  from  which  they 
were  eventually  restrained,  with  much  difficulty  by  Cortez  him 
self.  My  impression  is,  that  Cortez  was  in  a  great  measure 
excusable  for  the  apparent  atrocity  of  this  deed,  as  the  Cholu- 
lans  had  first  concerted  a  plan  for  the  slaughter  and  captivity  of 
him  and  his  little  band  of  tried  and  faithful  followers,  and  which 
was  finally  detected  through  the  instrumentality  and  superior 
address  of  that  most  extraordinary  woman,  Dona  Marina,  his 
Indian  interpreter.  For  several  weeks,  schemes  had  been 
maturing,  and  secret  plans  forming,  for  the  purpose  of  utterly 
annihilating  the  Spanish  hero  and  his  army,  or  sending  them, 
bound  hand  and  foot,  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  to  amuse  the  court 
of  Montezuma,  and  be  sacrificed  to  the  gods.  But  their  plans 
were  discovered  just  in  time  to  frustrate  them,  and  save  the 
little  remnant  of  Cortez's  army,  while  he,  with  a  master  stroke 


IN  MEXICO.  115 

of  generalship,  completely  turned  the  tables  on  them  in  a  man 
ner  which  cost  them  the  lives  of  thousands  of  their  wealthiest 
and  most  prominent  citizens,  and  filled  their  city  with  weeping, 
lamentation  and  woe.  The  only  permanent  and  conspicuous 
monument  which  has  been  left  by  the  corroding  tooth  of  time, 
and  the  desolating  march  of  war's  iron-clad  battalions,  is  the 
celebrated  pyramid  of  Cholula.  This  is  still  sought  by  the 
enterprising  and  curious  traveller,  and  serves  to  point  out  the 
place  where  that  beautiful  and  populous  city  of  the  plain  once 
stood.  This  huge  pile  is  built  of  unburnt  bricks,  and  is  said 
by  Humboldt  to  be  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  feet  high  ;  it 
is  composed  of  four  stories  or  blocks,  and  has  a  large  level  area 
on  its  summit,  in  which  particular  it  varies  frorn  the  other  pyra 
mids  both  in  that  country  and  in  Egypt,  which  has  led  some  to 
suppose  that  it  was  once  much  higher,  or  intended  to  be  so  by 
tho.-ie  who  erected  it.  The  particular  object  of  its  construction 
has  never  yet  been  ascertained  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 
Whether  it  was  designed  as  a  tomb  to  hold  the  bones  of  some 
mi,rht,y  conqueror,  or  a  place  of  sepulture  for  the  chief  dignita 
ries  of  the  church,  or  a  place  of  sacrifice  or  worship,  are 
questions  for  the  speculations  of  future  historians  and  antiquari 
ans.  This  pyramid,  when  viewed  from  the  main  road,  appears 
rough  and  uneven,  and  is  almost  completely  covered  with  trees 
and  shrubbery,  and  on  the  top  of  which  stands  out  in  bold  relief 
a  beautiful  temple,  said  by  some  to  have  been  originally  dedi 
cated  to  the  worship  of  the  sun,  while  others  contend  that  it  is 
nothing  more  than  an  ordinary  church  or  chapel,  where  the 
neighboring  peons  and  rancheros  assemble  for  worship.  The 
view  of  this  massive  pile  from  the  road,  together  with  the 
gloomy  solitude  of  the  vast  and  extensive  plain  that  surrounds 
it,  is  indeed  grand  and  sublime.  I  well  remember  the  first 
approximate  view  that  I  had  of  this  pyramid ;  it  was  on  the 
morning  of  the  16th  of  December,  1847.  Some  detachments 
of  the  American  army  had  marched  out  from  Puebla  that  after 
noon,  on  their  way  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  encamped  on  the 
plain  opposite  the  ruins,  and  near  the  eastern  base  of  the  pyra 
mid;  but  not  arriving  at  camp  until  after  dark,  the  view  was  of 
course  obscured.  Next  morning  about  daylight,  the  main  body 
of  the  troops  was  put  in  motion  for  the  march.  I  lingered  a 
little  behind,  and  it  being  very  cold,  I  was  standing  near  a  camp 
fire,  with  my  blanket  wrapped  closely  about  me,  and  my  eyes 
intently  fixed  upon  the  tower  that  crowns  the  summit  of  the 
pyramid,  when  I  saw  its  domes  and  spires  and  crowning  cross 
illuminated  by  the  first  faint  rays  of  the  rising  sun;  and  I 
thought,  as  I  turned  off  to  join  the  line  of  march,  that  I  had 


116  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

never  witnessed  a  more  grand  and  imposing  spectacle  in  all 
my  life.  I  felt  as  if  I  were  standing  upon  the  classic  tombs  of 
by-gone  generations,  where  Cortez  and  his  little  band  had  stood 
and  battled  for  life  three  hundred  years  before,  while  the  bones 
of  the  slaughtered  victims  of  his  bloody  massacre  smouldered 
beneath  my  feet. 

The  extensive  and  fertile  plains  composing  the  once  densely 
populated  territory  of  Tlascala,  stretches  themselves  out  far 
towards  the  mountains  on  the  right.  Bernal  Dias  says  that 
the  city  of  Tlasca  was  much  better  built  and  stronger  than  the 
city  of  Grenada,  and  contained  more  inhabitants  than  the  latter 
city  at  the  time  of  the  conquest,  and  was  much  better  provided 
with  the  necessaries  and  luxuries  of  life.  And  in  the  vast 
plaza  or  market  which  was  appropriated  for  the  purposes  of 
merchandize  and  traffic,  more  than  thirty  thousand  people 
assembled  daily  for  the  purpose  of  buying  and  selling. 

Immediately  on  the  arrival  of  the  right  wing  of  the  Ameri 
can  army  in  the  city  of  Puebla,  our  quarters  were  assigned  us 
in  one  of  the  buildings  composing  that  vast  and  extensive  pile 
belonging  to  the  convent  of  St.  Francis,  situated  on  the  western 
side  of  the  city  near  the  Alameda,  and  adjoining  the  plaza  de 
toro.  Immediately  succeeding  our  arrival,  General  Worth 
received  an  anonymous  note  from  some  secret  friend  residing 
in  Puebla,  warning  him  of  the  danger  that  surrounded  him,  and 
urging  him  to  be  on  the  alert,  as  the.citizens  were  contemplat 
ing  an  attack  the  first  favorable  opportunity;  and  that  (hey  were 
then  making  secret  preparations  for  the  purpose  of  accomplish 
ing  their  object.  He  immediately  gave  orders  for  strengthening 
the  guard,  which  was  done  by  putting  one-third  of  his  whole 
effective  force  on  post  at  once,  while  one  battery  was  kept 
constantly  ready,  the  horses  being  harnessed  and  the  port-fires 
lighted,  while  large  and  efficient  patrol  forces  scoured  the  city 
by  day  and  night.  Fort  Loretto,  situated  on  a  high  hill  on  the 
eastern  suburbs,  and  completely  commanding  the  whole  city, 
was  instantly  occupied,  and  the  guns  and  mortars  mounted,  so 
as  to  be  able  to  play  with  great  effect  upon  the  most  populous 
parts  of  the  city  at  a  moment's  warning.  This  fort  is  very 
strongly  built,  and  occupies  a  most  eligible  and  commanding 
position,  less  than  half  a  mile  from  the  city,  and  is  altogether 
capable  of  throwing  shot  and  shells  from  pieces  of  ordinary 
calibre,  with  great  precision  and  effect,  to  the  most  distant 
borders  of  the  city,  which  was  tested  most  effectually  during 
the  siege  of  Puebla  with  twelve  pounders.  Sentinels  were 
posted  upon  the  house  tops  during  the  day,  which  positions 
were  sufficiently  elevated  to  command  a  pretty  extensive  view 


IN  MEXICO.  117 

of  the  extreme  suburbs  in  every  direction.  Every  one  was  on 
the  alert,  and  every  available  precaution  was  taken  by  officers, 
subordinates,  and  privates,  to  guard  against  any  stratagem  of 
the  disaffected  citizens,  or  being  surprised  or  led  into  any  snare 
by  them;  for  no  one  feared  an  open  attack  in  day-light,  even 
with  the  odds  and  advantages  which  they  might  be  able  to 
array  against  us.  The  reader  may  justly  conclude  that  we  had 
no  very  slight  grounds  of  apprehension,  at  least  they  were  suf 
ficient  to  justify  us  in  keeping  a  sharp  look  out,  when  it  is 
remembered  that  we  were  quartered,  with  an  extremely  slender 
force,  i  ight  in  the  very  heart  of  such  an  immense  and  overpow 
ering  hostile  population,  while  swarms  of  thievish  and  bloody 
minded  Guerrillas  were  daily  hanging  upon  our  borders,  ready- 
to  co-operate  with  the  citizens  at  any  moment  against  us.  This 
unpleasant  suspense,  combined  with  one  continued  round  of 
fatiguing  and  enervating  duties,  continued  about  two  weeks, 
when  we  were  relieved  by  the  timely  and  welcome  arrival  of 
General  Scott,  with  Twiggs'  division,  and  other  large  rein 
forcements,  which  brought  rest,  both  of  body  and  mind,  to  many 
a  feeble  and  toil-worn  soldier,  who  had  to  walk  his  tiresome 
rounds  every  third  day  and  night  for  the  last  fourteen  days. 
During  all  this  time  murders  and  assassinations  were  being 
committed  almost  daily  upon  those  of  our  troops  who  wandered 
in  the  night,  or  ventured  alone  at  any  time  beyond  the  reach  of 
immediate  aid.  And  those  high-handed  measures  were  carried 
on  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  became  necessary  for  the  commander 
of  the  post  to  issue  an  order  making  it  a  punishable  offence  for 
American  soldiers  to  appear  alone  in  the  streets,  or  without 
their  side  arms.  The  first  night  after  our  arrival  in  Puebla,  a 
woman  was  stabbed  to  the  heart  by  her  own  husband,  near  the 
gate  that  led  into  our  quarters,  where  her  mutilated  body  was 
found  next  morning,  and  was  buried  by  the  guard.  This  unna 
tural  act  was  probably  committed  under  the  influence  of  jealousy, 
as  it  is  universally  conceded  that  the  Mexicans  are  proverbially 
the  most  jealous  people  in  the  world,  as  it  is  generally  the  case 
where  the  great  mass  of  the  people  do  not  recognize  a  very 
high  standard  of  virtue.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  detect  a 
thief  or  a  murderer,  or  any  refugee  from  justice,  among  the 
very  dense  population  of  the  larger  cities  of  Mexico,  where 
the  culprit  is  frequently  unknown  to  his  next  door  neighbor, 
and  perhaps  totally  unknown  to  all  who  take  any  active  interest 
in  enforcing  the  laws  and  regulations  for  the  preservation  of 
peace  and  good  order.  So  the  culprit  has  only  to  flee  to  a 
different  part  of  the  city  and  mingle  with  the  masses,  where  he 


118  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

is  seldom  or   ever  disturbed;  and  if  detected,  he  frequently 
escapes  justice  by  bribery  and  corruption. 

I  would  just  here  remark  that  the  towns  and  cities  of  Mexico 
are  about  three  times  as  densely  populated,  and  contain,  gen 
erally  speaking,  about  throe  times  the  number  of  inhabitants 
that  cities  of  the  same  size  do  in  this  country.  Every  nook 
and  corner  swarm  with  human  beings,  and  whole  families  of 
eight  or  ten  persons  frequently  occupy  a  room  not  more  than 
fifteen  feet  square,  while  a  dozen  families  are  sometimes 
crowded  within  the  walls  of  the  same  building.  The  modern 
luxury  of  beds,  such  as  are  used  in  this  country,  are  almost 
entirely  unknown  among  the  middle  and  lower  classes;  they 
sleep  upon  a  kind  of  mattrass  made  of  straw  or  palm  leaves, 
and  cover  themselves  with  the  same  blanket  that  they  wear 
about  their  shoulders  during  the  day.  These  portable  beds  are 
rolled  up  in  the  morning  and  laid  by  in  a  corner,  where  they 
are  out  of  the  way,  and  which,  by  the  bye,  is  a  great  conveni 
ence,  for  a  stationary  bed  and  bedstead  of  ordinary  size  would 
occupy  quite  too  much  room  in  their  very  circumscribed  apart 
ments,  which  they  are  compelled  to  use  in  the  threefold  capacity 
of  parlor,  bed-room,  and  kitchen. 

In  the  humbler  dwellings  of  the  peasantry,  chairs,  tables, 
spoons,  knives  and  forks,  with  a  great  many  other  articles  of 
household  and  kitchen  furniture,  which  custom  or  convenience 
has  rendered  necessary  in  almost  every  other  part  of  the  civil 
ized  world,  are  totally  unknown,  or  dispensed  with,  as  matters 
of  no  utility  at  all,  and  are  frequently  looked  upon  as  articles  of 
some  inconvenience.  In  taking  their  meals,  they  usually  seat 
themselves  on  rude  benches,  or  on  the  brick  floor,  around  a 
large  bowl  of  chile  or  vegetable  soup,  in  which  are  generally 
cooked  to  a  jelly  various  kinds  of  meats  in  very  small  quanti 
ties;  they  then  dip  the  soup  with  their  tortillas  and  eat  them 
both  together,  while  their  ringers  alone  are  employed  in  carry 
ing  their  meats  to  their  mouths.  Most  of  the  Mexican  women 
are  very  good  cooks,  and  are  capable  of  making  a  great  many 
very  nice  dishes,  but  they  generally  spoil  them,  as  we  would 
think,  by  using  too  little  salt,  and  too  much  red  pepper,  garlic, 
and  onions. 

About  the  middle  of  June,  the  diarrhcea,  in  its  most  fatal  and 
destructive  form,  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent  among  the 
troops  quartered  at  Pucbla;  the  strongest  and  most  robust  con 
stitutions  seemed  to  sink  first  under  its  wasting  and  enervating 
influence.  It  stalked  with  giant  strides  through  every  depart 
ment  of  the  army,  marking  its  onward  course  with  death  and 
desolation  ;  but  it  seemed  to  rage  with  most  fatal  effect  among 


IN  MEXICO.  119 

the  members  of  the  Palmetto  regiment,  which  alone  lost  fifty- 
four  men  in  the  month  of  July,  which  was  nearly  two  per  day. 
The  muffled  drum  sending  forth  the  mournful  tones  of  the  dead 
march,  was  heard  passing  the  streets  from  morn  till  night;  and 
before  one  funeral  procession  could  finish  the  sad  ceremonies 
of  sepulture,  another  would  be  crowding  upon  its  heels,  and 
each  returning  hearse  would  meet  another  upon  the  way,  while 
the  destroying  angel  seemed  to  be  hovering  nearer  and  nearer, 
and  the  black  pall  of  death  spread  its  dark  and  gloomy  folds 
over  that  doomed  and  devoted  city. 

"And  death's  dark  angel,  at  the  dead  of  night, 
Their  vitals  touched,  and  made  each  pulse  stand  still." 

I  have  frequently  awoke  in  the  morning  and  found  the  one  who 
slept  next  me  a  corpse,  and  whose  prospects  for  living  when 
we  retired  to  rest  the  night  before,  were,  to  all  human  appear 
ance  as  good  as  mine.  The  dead  were  mostly  buried  in  Mexi 
can  coffins,  which  they  made  and  furnished  at  about  five  dollars 
each ;  they  were  made  of  very  thin  plank  or  boards,  tapering 
regularly  from  head  to  foot,  without  the  ordinary  bulge  at  the 
shoulders,  and  were  painted  black,  with  some  rude  ornamental 
work  in  white  drawn  upon  them.  The  Mexicans  were  in  the 
habit  of  disinterring  the  dead  privately  at  night,  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  the  blanket,  (the  soldier's  winding  sheet,)  together 
with  the  coffin  in  which  he  was  buried,  and  which  they  would 
frequently  sell  to  the  officers  of  the  army  the  second,  and  per 
haps  the  third  time.  This  fact  was  satisfactorily  ascertained  by 
those  whose  business  it  was  to  superintend  the  burying  of  the 
dead.  At  the  lowest  calculation,  not  less  than  two  thousand  of 
the  American  army  now  sleep  beneath  the  silent  sod  of  Puebla, 
Cut  off'  by  the  fatal  hand  of  disease,  they  fell  in  a  foreign  and 
hostile  land,  far  from  the  comforts  of  home  and  friends,  without 
a  mother's  consoling  care,  or  a  sister's  kind  hand  to  bathe  the 
fevered  brow  or  smooth  the  bed  of  death.  Not  less  than  two 
hundred  of  the  Palmetto  regiment  alone  were  buried  there — 
wrapped  in  the  still  slumbers  of  the  grave,  "where  the  foe  and 
the  stranger  may  tread  o'er  their  head,"  but  where  the  deadly 
Sirocco,  the  poisonous  breath  of  the  pestilence,  shall  never 
come,  nor  the  shrill  clarion  of  war  again  disturb  their  quiet 
repose. 

I  cannot  think  that  the  vast  amount  of  disease  and  death 
which  made  such  fearful  ravages  among  the  troops  at  Puebla 
could  have  originated  from  any  local  cause,  but  the  seeds  must 
have  been  brought  from  the  coast,  which  germinated  and  sprung 
up  in  the  system  here,  and  brought  forth  such  an  abundant  har- 


120  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

vest  of  death.  And  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  most  of  that 
raging  epidemic  which  made  such  fatal  havoc  in  Quitman's 
brigade,  was  contracted  on  that  fatiguing,  starving,  prostrating, 
and  I  might  add,  useless  march  to  Alvarado;  and  which,  )  have 
no  doubt,  cost  our  brigade  more  valuable  lives  than  it  ever  lost 
while  facing  the  deadliest  fire  of  the  enemy  on  the  field  of  bat 
tle.  The  location  of  Puebla  is  dry  and  elevated,  and  free  from 
the  vicinity  of  swamps  and  marshes,  while  the  climate  is  tem 
perate  and  bracing,  and  free  alike  from  either  extreme  of  heat 
or  cold,  with  clean  streets,  and  an  efficient  police  employed  to 
keep  them  in  order,  which  circumstance  alone  must  be  a  very 
great  preservative  of  the  health  of  the  place. 

As  you  advance  from  the  coast  toward  the  interior,  the  pre 
ponderance  of  the  Indian  population  increases,  and  with  it  an 
increased  number  of  professional  beggars.     I  do  not  remember 
to  have  seen  a  single  beggar  in  the  streets  of  Vera  Cruz.     On 
reaching  Jalapa,  I  saw  a  few,  and  very  few,  and  they  were 
more  respectable  in  their  appearance,  and  better  clad,  than 
those  of  the  larger  interior  cities ;  and  on  reaching  Puebla  I 
found  them  at  every  corner,  holding  out  their  maimed  and  de 
formed  hands,  and  crying  for  alms  the  live  long  day;  but  even 
here  they  are  not  half  so  numerous  as  they  are  in  the  city  of 
Mexico.     General  Thompson  is  of  opinion  that  there  are  fewer 
cases   of  genital  malformation  in   Mexico  than  in  any  other 
country  in  the  world  of  the  same  population.     In  this  particular 
he  and  I  would  most  certainly  differ.     I  am  free  to  say  that  I 
have  seen  more  maimed  and  deformed  persons  in  the  city  of 
Mexico  in  one  day,  than  I  ever  saw  in  all  my  life  in  the  United 
States ;  some  without  feet  or  legs,  dragging  themselves  along 
the  streets  upon  their  hands,  filling  the  air  with  the  most  pite 
ous  tones  as  they  cry  perpetually  for  alms.     Others  were  with 
out  hands,  using  their  toes   to  pick   up  the  few  coppers  you 
might  throw  them ;  some  were  bowed  with  their  heads  almost 
to  the  ground,  while  the  blind  stood  at  the  corners  of  the  streets, 
or  were  led  about  by  children,  or  little  dogs,  with  their  long 
uncombed  hair  hanging  matted  over  their  shoulders,  and  their 
blackened   and  shrivelled  hands  were   extended  for  charity; 
while,  with  hideous  glare   of  sightless  eye-balls,   and  cracked 
and  whining  voice,  they  continually  implored  each  passer  by 
for  a  little  alms.     One  writer  says  : — "On  every  side  the  pas 
senger  is  importuned  for  charity.     Disgusting  lepers  whine  for 
tlacos;  maimed  and  mutilated  wretches,  mounted  on  the  backs 
of  porters,  thrust  out  their  distorted  limbs  and  expose  their  sores, 
urging  their  human  steeds  to  increase  their  pace,  as  their  vic 
tim  increases  his  to  avoid  them.     Rows  of  cripples  are  brought 


IN  MEXICO.  12 

into  the  street  the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  and  deposited 
against  the  wall,  whence  their  infernal  whine  is  heard  the  live 
long  day.'5 

Begging  in  Mexico  is  a  profession,  and  a  hump-back,  a  blinr; 
eye,  or  a  lame-leg,  is  considered  a  sufficient  capital  to  settle  OIK 
permanently  in  business,  with  a  pretty  fair  prospect  of  makin; 
it  a  safe  and  profitable  investment,  or  at  least  realizing  from  i 
an  easy  competency,  sufficient  to  insure  the  comfortable  suppor. 
of  himself  and  family,  if  he  might  chance  to  have  one.  There 
are  a  great  many  beggars  who  possess  no  bodily  auction,  and 
beg  because  they  are  too  lazy  and  indolent  to  make  a  living  in 
any  other  way.  Some  are  induced  to  follow  this  mode  of  life 
from  the  infirmities  of  age ;  but  those  are  much  more  successful 
who  may  be  fortunate  enough  to  possess  the  necessary  qualifi 
cations  of  being  halt,  maimed  or  blind.  I  havs  very  little 
sympathy  of  feeling  for  most  of  the  beggars  1  saw  in  Mexico; 
they  all  seemed  to  have  a  kind  of  whining  or  hypocritical  cant, 
accompanied  by  an  affected  air  of  distress  and  suffering,  which 
generally  led  me  to  suspect  their  motives.  *  *  *  * 
Thompson  says,  when  he  was  in  Mexico  there  was  not  a  corn 
mill  in  the  whole  republic;  there  are  now  two  very  fine  corn 
and  flour  mills  in  Puebla,  which  was  in  complete  and  success 
ful  operation  when  the  American  army  was  quartered  there  : 
also  a  first  rate  paper  mill,  which  was  doing  quite  an  extensive 
business,  and  yielding  the  proprietors  quite  a  handsome  divi 
dend.  Puebla  excels  any  other  city  in  Mexico  in  the  liiie  rf 
numerous  and  extensive  manufactories.  Almost  every  article 
of  domestic  manufacture  which  is  used  in  that  country,  or  ex 
ported  to  a  foreign  market,  is  made  here,  which  has  entitled  the 
city  to  the  proud  distinction  of  "the  Lowell  of  Mexico." 

The  most  common  drinks  of  the  natives,  besides  pulque,  ai  o 
aguardiente,  mescal,  anazetta,  wine  and  French  brandy;  th< 
latter,  in  that  country,  is  of  a  very  bad  quality,  and  is,  most 
probably,  nothing  more  than  common  whiskey,  colored  with 
logwood.  The  aguardiente  is  made  from  the  pulque,  and  the 
mescal  of  rye  or  barley.  There  is  a  very  fine  brewery  in 
Puebla,  where  large  quantities  of  very  fine  ale  is  made  ifrom 
common  barley,  which  grows  very  finely  in  that  country,  and 
is  considered  quite  an  extensive  staple  commodity.  The  mescal 
is  a  very  ordinary  drink,  and  is  retailed  at  a  tlaco  a  glass,  am; 
is  a  very  hot,  fiery  liquor,  and  soon  produces  intoxication ;  si:: 
and  a  quarter  cents  worth,  or  four  tlacos,  is  quite  enough  1  . 
make  a  man  drunk;  but  it  is  very  rarely  used  by  the  mo:  - 
wealthy  and  prudent  part  of  the  community,  as  it  is  universal 
6 


122  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

considered  unwholesome,  and  soon  proves  fatal  to  the  constitu 
tion  if  drank  to  excess.  When  a  Scnor  and  Senora  call  at  the 
shop  for  t!  "ir  refreshments,  they  order  two  glasses  to  be  filled, 
and  the  wile  taking  one,  gently  tastes  it  by  touching  it  with  her 
lips,  and  then  hands  it  to  her  husband,  then  she  takes  her  own 
glass  and  they  both  drink  together;  sometimes  they  repeat,  the 
wife  always  tasting  the  husband's  glass  before  either  drink. 
Judging  from  my  casual  observations,  I  should  say  that  the 
Mexicans,  as  a  nation,  are  generally  rather  moderate  drinkers, 
but  when  they  do  take  a  notion  to  indulge,  they  mostly  prefer 
the  pulque  as  it  is  more  wholesome  and  pleasant  to  the  taste, 
and  the  "pains  and  penalties"  of  getting  sober  are  not  so 
unpleasant  as  from  that  ef  stronger  drinks ;  the  nausea  and 
head-ache  of  the  succeeding  day  are  not  half  so  painful,  and 
one  feels  almost  as  -well  after  being  drunk  on  pulque  as  if 
nothing  hcd  happened. 

They  will  frequently  assembly  at  the  pulque  shops  in  crowds 
of  some  dozen  or  fifteen,  and  drink  until  they  become  quite 
merry ;  they  then  amuse  themselves  in  various  ways,  such  as 
singing  national  airs  or  love  ditties,  which  they  frequently 
compose  a  they  go,  or  dancing  to  the  music  of  the  guitar,  and 
sometimes  a  game  of  monte  is  introduced,  and  a  few  tlacos  bet, 
just  to  pas  >  away  the  time,  for  the  whole  amusement  with  them 
consists  in  the  betting,  and  consequently  they  never  play  with 
out  it.  I  r  m  quite  happy  to  say  that  it  is  a  very  rare  thing  to  see 
a  drunken  Mexican  lying  helpless  in  the  streets,  or  a  bevy  of 
the  devotees  of  Bacchus  quarrelling  and  fighting  before  the 
door  of  a  grocery.  Such  things  may  occasionally  be  met  with, 
but  they  are  by  no  means  of  every  day  occurrence. 

Colonel  Childs,  while  he  was  acting  as  Civil  and  Military 
Governor  <>t  Puebla,  issued  an  order  making  it  a  penal  offence 
for  a  shop-keeper  to  sell  spirits  of  any  kind  to  an  American 
soldier;  but  this  was  most  admirably  taken  advantage  of  by 
the  gentlemen  of  the  cigar  and  blanket,  who  make  their  Irving 
by  walking  the  streets.  At  almost  every  corner  you  might 
meet  one  with  a  bottle  concealed  under  his  sarapc,  and  as  you 
would  pas'-i  him  he  would  give  you  a  knowing  wink,  and  say  to 
you  in  an  under  tone,  "queri  per  mescal,"  (do  you  want  some 
brandy,)  the  answer  would  most  generally  be  "si  senor;"  he 
would  then  beckon  you  to  follow  him,  and  entering  the  first 
door  where  the  transaction  could  be  carried  on  secretly,  he 
would  deal  out  as  much  as  you  desired  of  the  good  creature  for 
the  consideration  of  a  few  tlacos.  I  have  known  the  market 
women  to  put  it  in  their  coffee  and  sell  it  in  that  way,  while 


IN  MEXICO.  123 

others  would  mix  it  with  their  pulque,  and  raise  the  price  to  two 
tlacos  a  glass  instead  of  one,  which  was  always  cheerfully  paid 
by  the  vendee  after  he  once  tasted  it  and  found  out  the  trick. 

There  are  two  very  fine  and  spacious  theatres  in  Puebla ;  the 
one  near  tne  "Plaza  de  Toro,"  on  the  western  side  of  the  city, 
was  occupied  during  the  stay  of  the  American  army  by  a  com 
pany  of  American  actors,  under  the  proprietorship  of  Messrs. 
Hart  and  Wells,  and  assisted  by  some  amateur  actors  belonging 
to  the  army.  The  circus  was  also  a  place  of  popular  resort, 
which  was  gotten  up  by  an  association  of  Yankees  from  the 
land  of  steady  habits,  and  was  very  well  sustained,  and  numer 
ously  patronized,  and  brought  the  public-spirited  and  enterpris 
ing  proprietors  quite  a  handsome  dividend.  Mrs.  Morrison  and 
Miss  Christian,  both  celebrated  actresses  from  the  States,  were 
on  the  stage  almost  every  night,  and  commanded  crowded 
house's  to  the  last.  The  former  is  not  only  a  fine  actress  and  a 
splendid  looking  lady,  but  one  of  the  best  singers,  decidedly,  that 
I  have  ever  heard.  The  latter  appeared  to  be  quite  young,  not 
exceeding  fifteen,  and  was  universally  admired  as  a  beauty;  she 
wore  Spanish  gaiters,  with  small  brass  bells  on  the  heels,  and 
could  outdance  Macbeth's  witches.  She  acted  Pauline  in  the 
Lady  of  Lyons,  and  Corporal  Styles  acted  Claude  Melnotte, 
and  were  encored  to  the  last.  The  theatre  which  was  occu 
pied  by  the  Spanish  company  was  tolerably  well  patronized,  the 
entrance  money  being  only  uno  real,  (twelve  and  a  half  cents,) 
while  that  of  the  American  company  was  fifty  cents.  The 
Spanish  are  very  good  actors,  perhaps  superior  to  ours,  as  far 
as  mere  action  and  gesticulation  are  concerned;  as  to  the  merits* 
of  their  pieces,  I  did  not  possess  a  sufficient  knowledge  or  their 
language  to  enable  me  to  form  any  thing  like  a  correct  judg 
ment.  The  costume  of  the  actors  was  rich  and  gfiudy  in  the 
extreme,  but  in  this  particular  the  actresses  -  even  excelled 
them,  their  dresses  being  in  a  perfect  blaze  with  gold,  silver, 
and  diamonds.  *  *  *  *  The  Mexicans  never  put  on 
what  we  term  summer  or  winter  clothing,  but  wear  the  same 
material  the  year  round.  In  fact,  they  have  little  or  no  cause 
to  do  so,  as  the  temperature  rarely  ever  changes  more  than  ten 
degrees  throughout  the  year.  The  muy  rico  cabelleros  scarcely 
ever  use  the  sarape,  except  it  is  a  very  fine  one,  an<!  they  only 
wear  it  when  on  horseback  in  riding  into  the  count  y,  or  from 
one  town  to  another,  to  protect  them  against  the  suddf  ?i  showers, 
as  they  are  very  thick  and  almost  water  proof;  bu  instead  of 
the  blanket  they  wear  a  very  large  cloth  cloak,  made  of  the 
finest  material,  and  lined  in  front  with  silk  velvet.  In  walking, 
they  throw  the  right  fold  over  the  left  shoulder,  in  quite  an  easy 


124  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

ind  graceful  manner,  which  completely  covers  the  bust,  arms, 
ind  the  lower  part  of  the  face.  I  have  often  seen  them  walk- 
ig  the  streets  under  the  vertical  rays  of  a  tropical  August  sun, 
hus  enveloped  in  the  flowing  folds  of  a  heavy  cloak ;  and  then 
'  have  seen  the  same  persons  passing  the  streets  on  a  chilly 
December  morning  with  only  a  linen  roundabout.  The  ladies 
of  the  middle  classes  are  never  seen  in  public  without  their 
reboza;  and  the  muy  grande  senorita  never  appears  in  ti  e 
streets,  or  at  church  or  theatre,  without  her  panueUo,  (shawl,) 
•.vhich  is  spread  over  the  head,  and  confined  with  a  hair  pin, 
ind  extends  almost  down  to  the  ground. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  advance  of  the  army  of  invasion  under  Major  General 
Worth,  reached  the  city  of  Puebla  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  May, 
of  which  they  took  peaceable  possession,  Avithout  the  least  show 
of  resistance,  and  quartered  within  its  gates.  In  about  ten 
days  or  a  fortnight  after,  the  army  of  reserve  arrived,  com 
manded  by  General  Twiggs,  and  accompanied  by  the  General- 
in-Chief,  which  augmented  the  force  then  in  Puebla  to  about 
eight  thousand  men,  which  was  considered  by  the  proper  au 
thorities  an  insufficient  force  with  which  to  march  against  the 
city  of  Mexico,  as  the  number  of  its  garrison,  and  the  strength 
of  its  fortifications,  were  then  entirely  unknown.  So  a  general 
halt  was  called,  and  the  whole  army  took  up  quarters  and  re 
mained  in  a  state  of  "  masterly  inactivity  "  from  May  till  August, 
waiting  for  reinforcements ;  during  the  whole  of  which  time  the 
most  active  preparations  were  going  on  in  the  city,  collecting 
and  organizing  the  scattered  troops,  bringing  in  the  outposts, 
and  erecting  and  strengthening  fortifications  at  every  defensible 
point  in  and  about  the  city. 

It  was  thought  by  many,  and  no  doubt  correctly,  too,  that  if 
General  Scott's  force  had  been  sufficient  to  have  justified  him 
in  marching  directly  against  the  city  without  halting  at  Puebla, 
that  he  might  have  entered  it  without  any  resistance  whatever; 
as  it  is  well  known  that  the  main  part  of  the  army  was  collected 
and  organized,  and  the  fortifications  erected  after  that  date. 
In  fact,  it  was  afterwards  rumored,  with  some  degree  of  plausi 
bility  at  least,  that  the  authorities  of  Mexico  had  not  determined 
upon  the  question  whether  the  city  should  be  defended  or  not, 
until  they  had  learned  that  the  American  army  had  halted,  and 
taken  up  quarters  at  Puebla,  which  delay  would  give  them 


IN  MEXICO.  125 

ample  time  to  erect  fortifications,  collect  an  army;  and  put  the 
city  in  a  respectable  state  of  defence.     It  was  also  known  at 
that  time,  that  a  large  portion  of  the  wealthy  and  influential 
citizens  of  Mexico  were  decidedly  opposed  to  any  further  re 
sistance,  and  that  rather  than  subject  their  ancient  and  beauti 
ful  city  to  the  fatal  and  disastrous  consequences  of  a  regular 
bombardment,    that  they  would  follow  in  the  wake  of  their 
fellow-citizens  of  Puebla,  and  open  their  gates  to  the  battling 
legions  of  the  "barbarians  of  the  north."     About  the  first  of 
August  the   long  expected  reinforcements  arrived  from  Vefa 
Cruz,  bringing  with  them  a  very  large  train  of  Commissary's 
stores ;  thus  augmenting  the  effective  force  to  about  ten  thous 
and  men.     And  immediately  the  glad  notes  of  preparation  for  a 
march  against  the  city,  and  a  "revel  in  the    Halls,"  were 
sounding  in  every  direction  through  the  bustling  and  busy  camp, 
and  all  seemed  anxious  to  see  the  city,  let  it  cost  what  it  might. 
A  little  active  energy,  and  a  few  busy  days  and  nights,  were  all 
that  was  necessary  to  have  every  thing  in  readiness  for  the 
move,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  General  Twiggs' 
division,  preceded  by  Colonel  Harney's  brigade  of  cavalry, 
moved  off  in  gallant  style,  making  the  welkin  ring  with  three 
cheers  for  the  start.     I  think  I  never  saw  a  finer  looking  set  of 
men  in  all  my  life ;  they  were  all  in  their  best  police,  with  their 
clean  neat  uniforms  of  United   States  blue,  and  their  muskets 
brightly  burnished  and  glittering  in  the  sun,  and  all  marching 
in  solid  columns  to  the  spirit-stirring  strains  of  martial  music, 
with  the  jaunty  step  and  correct  precision  of  well-drilled  sol 
diers.     On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  General  Quitman's  division 
of  volunteers,  with  a   small   detachment   of  U.  S.   Marines, 
started,  following  hard  in  the  wake  of  the  veteran  Twiggs ; 
.they  rent  the   air  with  long  and  loud  shouts,  and  gave  three 
•cheers  for  the  "Halls  of  the  Montezumas."     They  made  quite 
-a  martial  appearance,  while  their  long  extended  lines  of  glitter 
ing  bayonets  and  burnished  muskets  reached  almost  from  the 
plaza  to  the  Alameda,  and  looked  like  a  solid  wall  of  sparkling 
steel.     And  as  the  serrid  ranks  moved  off,  flinging  the  starry 
folds  of  their  battle  flag  to  the  morning  breeze,  every  eye  was 
turned  upon  their  gallant  leader,  as  he  dashed  along  their  well 
formed  lines,  with  the  slumbering  fires  of  battle  kindling  in  his 
•countenance,  and  flashing  from  his  burning  eye ;  for  all  felt 
assured  of  the  fact  that  they  were  not  to  be  idle  long,  as  they 
•anticipated  bloody  work  but  a  few  days  ahead.     But  Quitman 
was  there,  around  whom  clustered  the  hopes  of  the  volunteer 
division,  and  under  the  guiding  star  of  his  skill  and  courage 
they  all  felt  confident  of  victory ;  for  he  had  learned  some  hard 
6* 


126  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

and  useful  lessens  beneath  the  guns  and  walls  of  Monterey, 
and  which  they  felt  confident  he  would  turn  to  a  good  account 
between  there  and  the  Garita  de  Belen;  and  which  he  did,  to 
the  utter  rout  and  dismay  of  fearful  odds  and  opposing  hosts ;  he 
scattered  the  foe  from  his  victorious  track,  like  a  proud  war 
horse  would  shake  the  dew  drops  from  his  mane,  and  then 
turning  to  look  upon  the  ruin  he  had  wrought.  Worth's  divi 
sion  of  regulars  left  on  the  9th,  and  Pillow's  on  the  10th  of 
August,  every  division  preceding  the  next  one  day,  and  approx 
imating  nearer  and  nearer  during  their  march  towards  the  city, 
in  order  to  place  each  corps  in  easy  supporting  distance  of  the 
other,  inctise  the  front  should  be  attacked  by  superior  numbers. 
The  whole  army  of  invasion  was  now  in  motion,  and  moving 
on  like  some  vast  portentous  cloud  towards  the  Capital,  which 
was  then  supposed  would  shortly  be  the  bright  goal  of  its  ambi 
tion,  or  the  grave  of  its  hopes.  The  proud  eagle  of  America — 
the  beautiful  stars  and  stripes,  bright  with  the  clustering  glories 
of  victory,  reaped  in  the  bloody  harvest  of  many  a  well-fought 
field,  must  soon  trail  in  the  dust  beneath  the  foot  of  a  vandal 
foe,  or  be  flung  in  triumph  to  the  breeze  high  above  the  proud 
pillars  of  the  National  Palace. 

The  movements  of  the  army  were  slow  but  certain,  like  the 
folds  of  the  Anaconda  drawing  closer  and  closer  about  its  vic 
tim;  onward  and  still  onward  it  bends  its  winding  course, 
"wrapped  in  thick  clouds  of  rolling  dust;  the  veteran  Twiggs  is 
leading  the  van,  urging  his  tired  troops  over  hill  and  dale,  while 
his  rear  is  closely  pressed  by  the  succeeding  division  ;  and 
when  Qui'man  reaches  the  summit  of  the  hill  beyond  the  Rio 
Frio,  which  divides  the  valley  of  Puebla  from  that  of  Mexico, 
Twiggs'  train  is  seen  stretching  its  long  and  serpentine  coils 
far  along  the  dusty  plains  of  the  beautiful  and  romantic  valley 
that  lay  beneath.  And  on  looking  back  from  the  same  emi- 
tience,  Worth's  division  could  be  distinctly  seen  in  the  dim 
distance,  winding  its  tortuous  way  over  hills  and  through  ra 
vines,  far  in  the  distance  towards  San  Martin.  Here  was  an 
army  of  ten  thousand  men  marching  in  hostile  array  against 
one  of  the  finest  and  wealthiest  cities  ever  built  by  Europeans, 
and  whose  sacred  streets  had  not  been  polluted  by  the  footfall 
of  a  foreign  foe  for  more  than  three  hundred  years. 

You  mj;y  well  imagine  the  excitement  and  anxiety  which 
pervaded  «•  11  classes  in  anticipation  of  the  coming  fight ;  the 
spies  from  the  heights  had  already  announced  the  approach  of 
Scott  and  his  forces,  and  it  was  instantly  known  within  the 
walls  oi  the  city  ;  and  the  awful  news  spread  like  wild-fire  from 
centre  to  circumference,  through  every  lane  and  alley  of  the 


IN  MEXICO.  127 

Capital.  And  such  \vas  the  universal  interest  and  excitement 
that  seized  that  moving  mass  of  living  matter  that  now  swept 
the  streets  like  the  waves  of  an  angry  sea,  that  the  beggar  for 
a  moment  forgot  his  cries  for  charity,  and  stood  dumb-founded  in 
the  streets  ;  the  market  women  rushed  from  their  stalls  and 
booths,  and  with  their  baskets  of  fruit  upon  their  backs,  mingled 
with  the  excited  populace,  and  with  eager  haste  inquired  about 
the  ejercito  de  los  Estadus  Unidos;  the  arrieros  stopped  their 
beasts  of  burden,  and  the  carman  his  dray ;  and  the  young 
mother  turned  pale  and  pressed  her  infant  babe  closer  to  her 
bosom,  while  she  listened  to  the  rumbling  tread  of  advancing 
thousands.  The  mother  bid  her  son  adieu  with  tears  in  her 
eyes,  and  sent  him  forth  to  battle;  and  the  strong  man  wept 
like  a  child  as  he  buckled  on  his  armour  and  tore  himself  away 
from  the  last  embrace  of  a  young  and  affectionate  wife ;  and 
the  palsied  hand  of  age,  forgetting  its  infirmities,  seized  the 
trusty  firelock  and  went  forth  to  battle  for  home  and  country. 
Such,  we  may  reasonably  suppose,  was  the  state  of  public 
feeling  in  Mexico  when  the  head  of  the  advancing  columns  of 
the  American  army  appeared  in  sight  upon  the  distant  plains. 
On  the  night  of  the  eleventh,  Quitman's  division  camped  at 
a  small  town  or  hacienda  called  Buena  Vista,  only  a  few  miles 
in  advance  of  which  was  Twiggs'  camp  on  the  Penon  road, 
which  was  the  direct  route  to  the  city.  Quitman  remained  in 
camp  on  the  12th,  13th,  and  14th,  while  the  Engineers  were 
reconnoitering  El  Penon,  which  was  a  lofty  peak  rising  up 
abruptly  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  in  easy  musket  range, 
which  had  been  strongly  fortified,  and  defended  with  heavy  ar 
tillery,  mounted  on  three  tier  of  breast  works  that  crowned  its 
summit,  and  was  considered  decidedly  one  of  the  best  situated 
and  most  strongly  fortified  points  on  the  whole  route  from  Vera 
Cruz  to  the  city.  Quitman's  division  marched  from  their  camp 
at  Bucna  Vista  at  G  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  and 
taking  the  right  hand,  reached  Twiggs'  camp  at  quite  an  early 
hour.  Here  they  learned  that  it  had  been  determined,  by  the 
advice  of  the  Engineers,  not  to  approach  the  city  by  the  direct 
route  by  the  way  of  the  Penon  road,  as  it  "had  been  reported 
that  it  would  cost  Scott  five  thousand  men  to  turn  the  works  on 
that  mountain,  so  they  were  ordered  to  face  about  and  turn 
back,  and  afterwards  taking  the  right  hand  they  soon  reached 
Worth's  camp  at  Lake  Chalco,  on  the  route  leading  to  San  Au- 
gustin.  This  point  was  ranched  about  12  o'clock  by  Quitman's 
division,  soon  after  which  Worth  struck  his  tents  and  moved  on 
a  few  miles  further,  while  Quitman's  division,  occupying  the 
same  ground,  pitched  their  tents  and  camped  for  the  night.  It 


128 

was,  no  doubt,  confidently  expected  by  Santa  Anna  and  his 
Generals,  that  Scott  would  approach  the  city  by  the  most  direct 
route,  which  was  by  the  way  of  the  Penon  road,  and  had  there 
fore  strengthened  its  defences  with  more  than  ordinary  care,  by 
erecting  several  strongly  fortified  works,  which  completely 
commanded  the  approach,  and  mounting  thereon  a  large  portion 
of  his  heaviest  artillery.  And  in  order  to  keep  up  and  encour 
age  this  delusion  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican  leaders,  Twiggs 
was  ordered  to  remain  with  his  division  a  day  or  two  at  Ayotla, 
and  continue  to  threaten  El  Penon  and  Mexicalcingo. 

The  main  road  leading  by  the  Penon  mountain  towards  the 
city  is  nothing  more  than  a  causeway  erected  through  the  mid 
dle  of  a  lake,  and  during  the  rainy  season  it  is  completely  filled 
with  water  up  to  the  very  edges  of  the  road  on  both  sides,  so 
that  nothing  but  this  narrow  causeway  is  left  dry,  and  some 
times  even  that  is  flooded.  And  along  this  narrow  track,  with 
out  the  possibility  ot  diverging  either  way,  would  our  army 
had  to  have  marched  in  close  columns  for  more  than  two  miles, 
every  step  of  which  they  would  have  been  exposed  to  the  wast 
ing  fire  of  more  than  fifty  pieces  of  heavy  artillery,  which  was 
frowning  down  upon  them  from  the  overhanging  cliffs  of  that 
precipitous  mountain,  and  which  could  have  swept  our  path  like 
the  deadly  blast  of  the  desert,  and  buried  our  entire  army  in 
one  common  ruin  below.  But  Scott  wisely  determined  not  to 
awake  the  smouldering  fires  of  this  slumbering  volcano,  and 
leaving  it  in  his  rear,  diverge  to  the  left,  and  march  directly 
against  San  Augustine,  and  leave  the  Mexicans  to  drag  their 
cannon  to  some  other  point,  if  they  expected  to  annoy  him  with 
them, 

General  Twiggs  being  in  the  advance,  had  approached  seve 
ral  miles  nearer  the  Penon  than  any  other  division;  accordingly 
on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  he  broke  up  his  camp  at  Ayotla, 
and  took  up  the  line  of  march  towards  Lake  Chalco,  which  lay 
some  five  or  six  miles  in  his  rear,  and  to  the  left,  which  he 
gained  by  marching  back  a  few  miles,  and  then  taking  the 
road  leading  to  San  Augustin,  which  the  other  divisions  had 
passed  a  few  days  before.  On  this  short  march,  however,  he 
fell  in  with  a  large  number  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  infantry, 
under  the  command  of  General  Valencia,  who,  having  largely 
the  advantage  in  point  of  numbers,  seemed  disposed  to  give  him 
battle.  Twiggs  immediately  halted  his  advancing  columns, 
and  hastily  throwing  them  into  line  of  battle,  gave  the  enemy  a 
few  rounds  of  well-directed  shot  from  one  of  his  field  ba'tteries, 
which  soon  succeeded  in  creating  confusion  in  their  ranks,  and 
finding  they  could  effect  nothing  by  prolonging  the  combat,  they 


rN  MEXICO.  129 

broke  and  fled  in  great  precipitation,  leaving  quite  a  number  of 
their  dead  and  wounded  upon  the  field.  It  is  near  thirty  miles 
from  Chalco  to  San  Augustin,  and  leading  over  a  route  which 
was  deemed  by  the  enemy  perfectly  impracticable,  but  which 
was  accomplished  by  all  the  troops,  without  further  molestation, 
as  early  as  the  18th.  Worth's  division,  accompanied  by  Har- 
ney's  brigade  of  cavalry,  pushed  on  a  few  miles  beyond  San 
Augustin,  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  works  about 
the  village  of  San  Antonio,  which  was  found  to  be  very  strongly 
defended  by  entrenchments,  and  heav)  field  pieces,  planted  so 
as  to  rake  the  main  road  leading  towards  the  Capital.  This 
place  presented  quite  a  formidable  difficulty  to  the  advance  of 
our  troops,  as  it  was  found  by  the  Engineers  to  be  totally  im 
practicable  to  effect  a  passage  on  the  right,  on  account  of  the 
wet  and  marshy  nature  of  the  ground.  The  only  remaining 
chance  was  to  turn  the  works  by  infantry  on  the  left,  passing 
over  a  plain  covered  with  large  rocks  of  volcanic  formation, 
and  over  which  it  was  impossible  for  artillery  to  pass. 

Seeing  the  disadvantageous  circumstances  under  which  he 
would  labor  in  attempting  to  carry  this  strongly  fortified  point, 
the  General-in-Chief  ordered  Worth  to  hold  his  present  posi- 
tion  and  threaten  and  mask  the  works,  but  not  attack  them, 
which  was  considered  the  most  expedient  and  proper  course 
that  could  be  pursued  at  that  time.  The  first  man  who  fell 
before  the  enemy  in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  was  Captain  Thorn 
ton,  of  the  2d  dragoons,  who  had  often  distinguished  himself  as 
a  brave  and  skillfull  officer  in  the  battles  of  the  Rio  Grande ; 
he  was  present  at  the  opening  of  the  war,  and  was  with  Taylor 
when  the  first  gun  was  fired  from  the  walls  of  Fort  Brown  up 
to  the  capitulation  of  Monterey.  He  was  covering  a  reconnoi 
tering  party  with  his  gallant  corps  of  dragoons  when  the  enemy 
opened  upon  them,  and  the  first  shot  that  was  fired  from  the 
works  of  San  Antonio  struck  him  down,  mortally  wounded,  at 
the  head  of  his  command.  A  re'connoisance  was  commenced 
on  the  18th,  and  continued  on  the  19th,  by  Captain  Lee  and 
Lieutenants  Beauregard  and  Tower  of  the  Engineer  corps,  ex 
tending  to  the  left  of  San  Augustin,  over  steep  and  difficult  hills, 
and  fields  of  sharp  and  pointed  volcanic  rocks,  reaching  to  the 
base  of  the  mountains,  five  miles  beyond  San  Antonio.  Pil 
low's  division  was  advanced  in  order  to  clear  a  track  for  the 
artillery  to  pass ;  and  Twiggs'  division  was  ordered  to  move  in 
front  for  the  purpose  of  covering  tho  line  of  fatigue  operations. 
This  disposition  of  the  forces  under  Twiggs  became  necessary 
from  the  fact  that  large  bodies  of  the  enemy  had  been  seen  on 
the  look-out  in  that  direction  the  day  before,  and  with  whom  a 


130  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

small  detachment  under  Colonel  Graham  had  some  very  spirited 
skirmishing.  By  three  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  18th,  ad 
vanced  portions  of  the  army  had  arrived  almost  within  reach  of 
the  guns  of  the  entrenched  camp,  and  could  not  pursue  their 
course  on  the  direct  road  further  without  exposing  themselves 
to  a  most  destructive  fire  from  the  twenty-two  pieces  of  heavy 
artillery  which  were  frowning  down  upon  them  from  the  strong 
ly  fortified  position  which  crowned  the  summit  of  the  hill. 
These  works  contained  not  less  than  eight  thousand  men,  which 
were  almost  hourly  being  reinforced  by  large  bodies  of  both 
cavalry  and  infantry  from  the  city,  which  continued  to  pour 
themselves  in  a  steady  stream  from  the  gates,  while  in  the  ra 
vines  and  on  the  neighboring  heights  not  less  than  twelve 
thousand  more  \vere  hovering  round  within  easy  supporting 
distance,  looming  up  in  the  distance  like  angry  clouds  hanging 
in  broken  columns  upon  the  horizon's  verge.  Opposed  to  this 
overwhelming  force  was  only  four  thousand  five  hundred  men, 
without  cavalry  or  artillery,  and  laboring  under  every  disad 
vantage  which  broken  ground  and  chosen  positions  could  array 
against  them.  At  4  o'clock,  Pillow's  and  Twiggs'  divisions 
had  pushed  forward  to  assist  in  engaging  and  dislodging  the 
enemy,  and  to  facilitate  which  purpose  they  had  extended  their 
lines  towards  the  road  leading  from  the  city,  and  on  the  left  of 
the  enemy's  works.  Captain  Magruder's  and  Callender's  bat- 
teries  were  also  advanced  with  incessant  labor  and  difficulty, 
and  placed  in  position,  where  they  were  most  gallantly  and 
effectually  served;  but  they  suffered  very  much  from  the  inces 
sant  and  destructive  fire  from  the  enemy's  heavier  pieces.  The 
top  of  the  hill  was  wrrapped  in  sheets  of  living  fire,  and  had  the 
appearance,  at  a  distance,  of  a  volcano  in  full  play,  belching 
forth  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame,  which  almost  blotted  out  the 
enemy's  works  from  view,  and  made  the  evening  sun  to  go 
down  in  blood.  But  during  this  time  Magruder  and  Callender 
were  by  no  means  idle,  but  faithful  to  their  charge,  they  walked 
back  and  forth  before  their  batteries,  amid  the  plunging  fire  that 
poured  its  wasting  storma  round  them,  and  encouraged  and  stea 
died  the  men  that  worked  the  guns,  and  answering  fire  to  fire, 
hurled  the  hot  bolts  of  death  against  the  trembling  battlements 
of  the  foe.  The  battle  continued  to  rage  with  unabated  fury  on 
both  sides,  until  darkness  closed  the  contest,  and  spreading  its 
black  mantle  over  the  bloody  field,  shut  out  from  view  the  con 
tending  forces.  The  night  was  dark  and  cold,  and  the  rain  fell 
in  torrents,  and  the  exhausted  army  had  to  snatch  the  few 
hours  of  repose  which  were  allowed  them,  upon  the  cold  wet 
ground,  while  the  water  swept  in  floods  around  them,  with  their 


IN  MEXICO.  131 

arms  wet,  without  tents,  blankets  or  rations,  and  themselves 
drenched  to  the  skin.  Thus  they  passed  that  awful  night  of 
the  18th  of  August,  sleeping  beneath  the  pitiless  peltings  of 
the  storm,  whose  angry  howlings  was  mingled  with  the  groans 
and  cries  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  which  came  up  in  tones 
of  pain  and  despair  from  every  part  of  that  rent  and  gorey  field. 
The  night  wore  away,  and  both  armies  slept  upon  the  same 
ground  where  they  had  fought  so  bravely  the  preceding  day, 
and  so  near  together  that  each  could  hear  the  measured  tread  of 
the  other's  sentinals  as  they  walked  their  lonesome  rounds. 
But  excessive  fatigue  and  exhaustion  caused  them  to  sleep  as 
soundly  and  sweetly  as  if  they  had  been  dreaming  away  the 
swift-winged  hours  beneath  the  moon-bearns  of  a  soft  Italian 
sky;  and  the  first  faint  beams  of  the  morrow's  son  were  not  to 
look  down  upon  a  field  of  blood  and  carnage. 

General  Smith's  and  Colonel  Riley's  brigades  of  Twiggs' 
division,  and  Pierce's  and  Cadwalader's  brigades  of  Pillow's 
division,  were  most  exposed  to  the  direct  fire  of  the  enemy, 
who  continued  to  pour  incessant  vollies  of  artillery  and  small 
arms  into  their  bleeding  and  unprotected  ranks  for  near  three 
hours,  without  one  moment's  intermission.  The  Entrenched 
Camp,  or  Contreras,  (as  it  is  most  commonly  called,)  with  its 
frowning  batteries  of  heavy  field  pieces,  was  not  the  only  avail 
able  auxiliary  that  surrounded  this  most  favorable  position  of 
Valencia's  forces  ;  but  the  surrounding  heights  and  ravines  were 
perfectly  covered  and  crowded  by  clouds  of  infantry  and  cavalry, 
ready  and  waiting  the  signal  to  fly  to  the  aid  of  the  beleagured 
camp,  which  was  struggling  to  restrain  its  pent  up  fires  upon  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  and  impatiently  waiting  for  the  morrow's  light 
to  enable  it  to  pour,  in  burning  streams,  the  red  lava  of  death 
down  its  sides,  and  overwhelm  the  little  army  that  looked  like 
a  mere  speck  as  seen  in  the  distance  through  the  smoke  of  bat- 
tie.  But  that  little  speck  of  an  army  which  had  been  the  sub 
ject  of  the  haughty  Valencia's  scorn  and  contempt,  though  it 
might  not  have  appeared  to  him  much  larger  than  Elijah's 
cloud,  when  compared  to  the  long  lines  of  his  own  darkening  le 
gions  ;  but  quite  a  change  had  taken  place  during  the  night, 
and  when  the  morrow's  light  revealed  its  true  proportions,  as  it 
hung  in  threatening  gloom  upon  the  western  side  of  his  camp, 
it  had  assumed  a  more  respectable  appearance,  while  ever  and 
anon  he  could  see  the  red  glare  of  the  lightning  as  it  played 
upon  its  threatening  surface,  and  revealed  to  his  astonished 
gaze  the  dread  heralds  of  the  coming  storm,  hanging  round  him 
like  the  angry  clouds  that  curtain  the  black  chambers  of  the 
thunder's  home. 


132 

But  when  that  dark  and  dismal  night  set  in,  both  parties 
seemed  willing  to  suspend  further  operations,  and  wait  the 
dawn  of  the  coming  day,  to  decide  the  contest.  The  main  body 
of  our  troops  were  by  no  means  idle  during  the  night ;  they 
only  waited  for  the  gathering  darkness  to  shut  out  their  move 
ments  from  the  view  of  the  enemy,  when  they  set  to  work  to 
gain  the  most  favorable  position,  from  whence  to  storm  the  en 
trenched  camp,  and  carry  the  works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
Quitman  had  received  orders  to  remain  with  his  division,  as  a 
guard,  at  San  Augustin,  which  was  then  the  general  depot  of 
the  army  stores  and  provisions;  and  just  as  the  men  were  en 
gaged  in  drawing  four  days  rations  for  that  very  purpose,  an 
express  arrived  from  head  quarters  on  the  wings  of  the  wind, 
ordering  the  Palmetto  and  New  York  regiments,  under  General 
Shields,  to  push  on  with  all  possible  speed  to  the  support  of 
Generals  Pillow  and  Twiggs,  who  were  then  hotly  engaged 
with  the  enemy's  whole  line.  These  two  regiments,  forming 
Shields'  brigade,  left  San  Augustin  about  four  o'clock  on  the 
evening  of  the  19th,  and  by  a  forced  march  over  extremely 
rough  and  broken  ground,  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  battle 
field  at  rather  a  late  hour  at  night.  I  presume  that  very  few  of 
the  survivors  who  participated  in  the  toils  and  hardships  of  that 
evening's  march  will  ever  forget  it.  Their  way  lay  over  the 
sharp  rocks  and  deep  ravines  composing  the  celebrated  Pedregal 
or  field  of  lava,  which  was  perfectly  impassable  on  horseback, 
and  almost  so  on  foot ;  many  of  the  officers  lost  their  horses, 
among  whom  was  Major  Gladden  of  the  Palmetto  regiment. 
The  night  was  incessantly  dark  and  the  rain  fell  in  torrents, 
while  the  road  was  so  muddy  and  slippery  that  it  was  impossi 
ble  for  the  men  to  keep  on  their  feet,  but  was  continually 
tumbling  down  at  every  few  steps.  The  fact  is  there  was  no 
road,  and  scarcely  any  way,  but  still,  with  untiring  zeal  and  en 
ergy  they  continued  to  urge  their  onward  course  over  rocks  and 
ravines,  and  often  wading  the  mountain  streams,  swollen  by  the 
falling  rain,  some  of  which  were  waist  deep.  It  was  quite  a 
late  hour  at  night  before  this  brigade  got  in  position,  which  it 
had  to  hold  in  the  face  of  the  storm,  and  without  tents,  blankets, 
or  provisions,  until  daylight  the  next  morning.  During  the 
night  of  the  19th,  Generals  Shields,  Smith  and  Cadwalader 
concentrated  their  respective  brigades,  together  with  the  15th 
Infantry,  under  Colonel  Morgan,  at  or  near  the  hamlet  or  haci 
enda  ot  Ansalda,  which  lay  some  distance  in  the  direction  of 
the  city  from  the  enemy's  position  at  Contreras,  and  on  the 
route  leading  directly  to  the  factory  of  Magdalena.  This 
had  been  the  concentrated  point  of  the  hottest  work  with  the 


IN  MEXICO.  133 

enemy  on  the  evening  before ;  and  the  difficult  and  doubtful 
task  now  lay  before  our  fatigued  and  worn  out  troops,  of  taking 
by  assault,  and  without  the  aid  of  cavalry  or  artillery,  this 
strong  and  well-defended  point  of  the  enemy's  works.  But 
these  obstacles  had  to  be  met  and  overcome ;  the  daring  deed 
must  be  accomplished,  and  that,  too,  in  the  very  face  of  twenty- 
two  pieces  of  heavy,  well-manned  artillery,  or  our  gallant  :md 
indefatigable  advance  corps  would  be  compelled  to  abandon  all 
the  advantages  which  they  might  have  gained,  and  iall  back 
upon  the  San  Augustin  road,  and  force  a  passage  by  turning 
the  strong  and  well-fortified  position  of  San  Antonio. 

In  order  to  be  prepared  for  the  worst,  and  to  make  matters 
more  safe  in  the  neighborhood  of  hostilities,  General  Worth 
was  ordered  to  leave  one  of  his  brigades  at  San  Antonio,  in 
order  to  mask  it  and  hold  the  garrison  in  check,  and  march  with 
the  balance  of  his  command  early  on  the  morning  of  the  20th 
by  the  way  of  San  Augustin,  upon  Contreras.  General  Quit- 
man  was  also  ordered  forward  towards  the  same  point,  while 
his  position  at  San  Augustin  would  be  occupied  by  Colonel 
Harney's  brigade  of  cavalry,  whose  services  would  be  render 
ed  inefficient  on  the  field  of  battle  by  the  rocky  ravines  and 
broken  nature  of  the  ground.  The  main  plan  of  attack  for  the 
approaching  hour  of  daylight  was  principally  suggested  and 
arranged  by  Brigadier  General  Persifbr  F.  Smith,  seconded  by 
the  advice  and  counsel  of  Generals  Shields  and  Cadwalacler, 
and  Colonel  Riley.  General  Shields  was  the  senior  officer 
present,  and  to  him  the  command  of  the  whole  force  at  that 
point  properly  belonged;  but  as  he  came  up  with  his  brigade 
after  night,  and  after  the  plan  of  attack  had  been  arranged  by 
Smith  and  others,  he  politely  waived  the  privilege  ol  assuming 
command,  and  nobly  left  the  assault  to  be  led  by  those  who  had 
planned  it,  while  he,  of  his  own  choice,  occupied  a  subordinate 
position.  To  him  and  his  gallant  brigade  was  then  submitted 
the  difficult  and  dangerous  task  of  holding  the  hamlet  with  only 
two  regiments,  against  an  overwhelming  superiority  of  numbers, 
both  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  which  were  hovering  near  him  on 
the  side  towards  the  city,  and  threatening  every  moment  to  be 
down  upon  him  in  a  stream  of  fire.  This  position  was  also 
judiciously  chosen  with  a  view  to  enable  hirnto  harrass  the  flying 
enemy,  and  if  possible  cut  off  their  retreat,  should  they  be 
routed  by  the  charge  of  Smith  on  the  rear  of  their  works,  which 
was  intended  to  take  place  at  daylight  the  next  morning.  And 
well  and  faithfully  did  the  Palmettoes  and  New  Yorkers,  under 
their  brave  and  accomplished  leader,  discharge  their  duty, 
and  more  than  realize  the  most  sanguine  anticipations  of  their 


134 

friends,  as  the  bleeding  and  mangled  battalions  of  the  routed  foe 
were  able  to  testify  but  a  few  hours  afterwards. 

The  general  movement  to  gain  a  position  in  the  enemy's 
rear,  was  commenced  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with 
the  blunt  but  gallant  Riley  leading  the  van,  followed  in  the  re 
gular  order  of  succession  by  the  respective  brigades  of  Cad- 
walader  and  Smith,  the  latter  of  which  was  commanded  for  the 
time  by  Major  Dimick,  of  the  first  artillery;  the  whole  assault 
ing  force  being  under  the  immediate  orders  of.General  Smith, 
\vho  was  senior  officer  in  the  general  attack.  In  leading  this 
brilliant  and  guccessful  assault  upon  the  entrenched  camp  of 
Valencia,  he  won  laurels  that  shall  never  fade  from  his  honored 
brow,  and  by  his  gallantry  and  skill,  wrhich  lie  displayed  in  such 
an  eminent  degree  on  that  occasion,  he  secured  the  proud  title 
of  the  "Hero  of  Contreras";  he  won  it  well,  and  may  he  wear 
it  long.  The  march,  which  was  necessary  to  gain  the  enemy's 
rear,  was  a  most  tedious  and  arduous  undertaking,  rendered 
more  so  by  the  excessive  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  tor 
rents  of  rain  that  still  continued  to  fall,  together  with  the  deep 
mud,  and  the  very  rough  and  uneven  nature  of  the  ground  over 
which  they  had  to  pass.  But  by  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant 
Tower,  and  others  of  the  Engineer  corps,  Colonel  Riley,  with 
the  advance  of  the  assaulting  force,  reached— about  sun-rise — 
a  favorable  position  on  an  eminence  in  rear  of  the  entrenched 
camp,  from  whence  he  ordered  the  charge,  and  poured  his 
storming  legions,  like  a  sweeping  tornado,  against  the  trembling 
works  of  the  enemy,  which  he  entered  in  triumph,  and  planted 
his  colors  upon  the  walls,  all  of  which,  from  the  commence 
ment  of  the  charge,  was  but  the  work  of  seventeen  minutes. 
Taking  into  consideration  the  great  and  par.imount  advantages 
possessed  by  the  enemy,  in  both  natural  and  artificial  defenses, 
their  heavy  artillery,  and  great  superiority  of  numbers;  and 
then  remembering  that  the  Americans  were  without  cavalry  or 
artillery,  I  think  it  must  generally  be  conceded  that  this  is  one 
of  the  most  decisive  and  brilliant  victories  on  record.  But  the 
fighting  by  no  means  ceased  when  the  enemy  abandoned  their 
works  and  fled  towards  the  city.  The  direction  of  the  routed 
foe  led  them  near  the  hamlet  of  Ansalda,  where  the  gallant 
Palmettoes  and  New  Yorkers  were  in  position,  and  waiting  with 
levelled  pieces  to  give  the  flying  masses  a  passing  notice,  which 
they  did  riot  fail  to  do,  and  poured  a  stream  of  fire  into  the  dis 
ordered  ranks  of  the  confused  and  retreating  thousands,  as  they 
almost  came  to  a  full  halt,  huddled  up  between  two  walls,  while 
the  road  was  completely  choaked.  The  deadly  and  destructive 
fire  from  Shields'  brigade  was  incessant  and  fatal  in  the  ex- 


nr  MEXICO. 

treme,  mowing  down  whole  ranks  of  the  enemy  at  eveiy  dis 
charge,  while  their  long  extended  lines  seemed  completely  en 
veloped  in  one  constant  sheet  of  flame,  as  they  rained  a  perfect 
hail-storm  of  bullets  into  their  panic-struck  and  fast  thinning 
columns.  The  hoarse  voice  of  the  impetuous  Shields  was 
heard  above  the  roar  of  musketry  and  the  din  of  battle,  as  he 
spurred  his  fiery  charger  along  the  blazing  ranks,  while  his 
glittering  blade,  as  he  waved  it  above  his  head  in  fiery  circles, 
shot  its  lightning  glances  far  around,  and  served  as  the  guiding 
star  to  lead  on  his  battling  hosts  to  victory. 

The  field  was  perfectly  strewed  with  the  killed  and  Wounded, 
and  also  a  large  number  of  prisoners  were  taken ;  among  the 
latter  was  General  Mendoza,  who  delivered  up  his  sword  to 
Captain  Dunnovant,  of  the  Palmetto  regiment,  who  was  after 
wards  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dick 
inson,  who  died  of  a  wound  »?ceivcd  at  the  battle  of  Churubusco. 
General  Cadwalacler,  with  his  brigade  consisting  ol  the  Volti- 
geurs  and  the  llth  Infantry,  also  acted  a  conspicuous  part  in 
carrying  the  entrenched  camp;  and  Colonel  Ransom,  \vith  his 
temporary  brigade,  conducted  by  Captain  Lee  of  the  Engineer 
corps,  made  a  very  timely  and  spirited  movement  for  the  pur 
pose  of  diverting  and  distracting  the  enemy,  and  finally,  beyond 
the  ravine,  opened  a  fierce  and  destructive  fire  upon  the  retreat 
ing  columns.  The  wake  of  the  enemy  was  perfectly  covered 
with  muskets,  escopets,  caps,  and  uniforms,  which  the  Mexicans 
had  thrown  off  in  their  flight,  in  order  that  they  might  not  have 
the  appearance  of  soldiers;  hundreds  of  them  acted  in  that  way, 
and  then  running  towards  our  iroops,  almost  in  a  state  of  nudity, 
they  would  fall  upon  their  knees,  and  with  their  hands  thrown 
up,  beg  for  quarter,  exclaiming  at  the  same  time  at  the  top  of 
their  voice,  "no  hay  soldado,  no  hay  soldado!"  (I  am  no  s*ldier, 
I  am  no  soldier).  One  of  our  men  killed  a  poor  Mexican  sol 
dier  while  on  his  knees  before  him,  and  with  extended  hands 
and  tears  in  his  eyes,  begging  for  mercy;  but  regardless  of  his 
entreaties ,  the  heartless  and  cruel  soldier,  contrary  to  orders 
and  the  advice  of  his  comrades,  deliberately  raised  his  musket, 
and  at  the  distance  of  only  a  few  paces,  shot  him  through  the 
heart.  And  strange  to  say,  that  soldier  was  the  first  man  who 
fell  on  that  afternoon  at  the  battle  of  Churubusco.  He  was 
killed  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile  with  an  escopet  ball,  and 
which  was  thought  by  his  companions  to  be  a  righteous  retri 
bution  which  had  overtaken  him  for  his  cruelty  to  the  Mexican 
soldier  in  the  morning.  The  American  army,  as  a  body,  were 
universally  distinguished  for  kindness  and  generosity  towards 


136  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

their  enemies,  and  their  courteous  and  humane  bearing  was  a 
subject  of  remark  even  among  the  Mexicans  themselves.  But 
there  will  be  some  exceptions  in  all  large  armies ;  some  men 
will  be  found  in  their  ranks  who  are  destilute  of  those  finer 
feelings  and  liberal  sentiments  which  always  distinguish  the 
gentleman  soldier.  It  might  be  proper  to  remark  that  the  sol 
dier  who  committed  this  barbarous  and  cold  blooded  deed  to 
which  I  have  just  alluded,  was  not  a  native  American  citizen. 

The  great  victory  of  Contreras  is  complete— the  wiley  and 
stubborn  foe  has  been  swept  from  the  heights  by  a  hurricane  of 
bayonets,  and  the  shattered  fragments  of  that  once  powerful 
and  well-appointed  army,  were  now  bending  their  crippled 
course  in  full  and  confused  flight  towards  the  city — thus  was 
won,  by  the  indomitable  courage  and  unyielding  perseverance 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon  soldiery,  the  first  grand  victory  of  the  Valley 
of  Mexico.  The  following  lucid  description  of  that  splendid 
victory  is  from  the  pen  of  an  eye-witness,  and  one  who  knows 
how  to  write  as  well  as  fight: 

"The  army  rolled  on  its  lengthened  train,  between  those 
stupendous  mountain  files,  rearing  their  snow-capped  summits 
far  above  the  region  of  the  clouds.  Mountain  piled  on  moun 
tain  in  confused  and  terrible  grandeur,  mementoes  of  the  mighty 
convulsions  that  have  rocked,  and  torn,  and  upward  pushed 
these  mighty  mountains,  when  the  agonizing  throes  of  the  liquid 
fiery  elements  of  the  volcano  struggled  furiously  in  the  convul 
sive  throbs  of  the  earthquake,  to  burst  the  adamantine  crust, 
and  discharge  the  melted  fiery  matter  in  the  upper  air,  pouring 
out  floods  of  melted  lava  o'er  all  the  plains  below.  The  onward 
movement  of  the  victorious  little  army  was  arrested  by  the 
formidable  works  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco.  Valencia's 
7,000  warriors,  behind  ramparts  studded  with  cannon,  and 
bristling  with  steel,  must  be  met  and  vanquished,  shielded  as 
they  were  by  so  many  natural  barriers,  chasms  of  interminable 
depth,  sharp,  craggy  pedrigal  rocks,  and  deep  ravines  of  turbu 
lent  waters  must  be  passed  ere  the  enemy  are  reached.  The 
Chief  assembled  his  council,  and  determined  the  deed  to  be 
done;  the  scientific  energies  of  the  powerful  minds  in  attend 
ance  were  called  into  activity,  the  plan  of  attack  was  arranged 
and  soon  put  in  operation.  The  heights  of  Contreras  were 
gained  while  darkness  shrouded  mountain  and  valley  from  the 
watchman's  eye.  The  shout  of  battle  and  the  death-shriek  of 
his  ranks,  as  the  gleaming  steel  drinks  the  blood  and  pierces  the 
heart,  were  the  first  to  break  Valencia's  slumbers  and  mark  the 
track  by  which  these  daring  warriors  reached  his  stronghold; 
the  dead  was  triply  strewed  o'er  all  the  ground,  so  fierce  and 


IN  MEXICO.  137 

sudden  was  the  onset.  The  dense  retreating  masses,  enveloped 
in  fire  and  smoke,  flying  in  wild  disorder  before  the  death- 
strokes  of  the  maddened  victors,  are  now  enclosed  by  the  double 
lines  of  foemen ;  rank  after  rank  or  their  disordered  columns 
are  thus  mown  down  by  the  well-aimed  deadly  musketry. 
Thousands  fell  beneath  this  protracted  slaughter,  till  every  ave 
nue  of  flight  was  choked,  and  the  battle  field  was  alone  cum 
bered  with  the  dead.  Contreras  had  fallen,  and  the  third  victory 
was  won." 

In  this  fight,  the  enemy  lost  in  killed  seven  hundred,  and  near 
nine  hundred  prisoners,  including  88  officers,  four  of  whom 
were  Generals ;  besides  a  large  number  of  colors,  ensigns  and 
standards,  twenty-two  pieces  of  heavy  brass  ordnance,  several 
thousands  stands  of  small  arms,  with  large  quantities  of  army 
stores  and  ammunition,  and  seven  hundred  packed  mules.  Our 
immediate  loss  on  the  field  in  killed  and  wounded  did  not  exceed 
sixty,  among  whom  we  had  to  lament  the  loss  of  that  gallant 
and  accomplished  officer,  Captain  Charles  Hansom,  of  the 
fourth  infantry,  and  Lieutenant  J.  P.  Johnstone  of  the  first  ar 
tillery,  who  was  serving  with  Magruder's  battery,  and  fell  at 
the  guns  on  the  evening  before.  The  two  brass  six-pounders 
were  re-taken  here,  by  Captain  Drum,  of  the  fourth  artillery, 
which  was  lost  by  that  same  regiment,  yet  without  the  loss  of 
honor,  at  the  bloody  and  fell-fought  battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

So  complete  and  rapid  was  the  rout  of  the  Mexican  forces, 
that  all  was  over,  and  the  victory  won,  before  the  approaching 
brigades  of  Worth's  and  Quitman's  divisions  were  able  to  reach 
the  scene  of  action,  so  they  were  met  and  ordered  back  to  their 
former  respective  positions.  It  was  said  that  Santa  Anna  had 
ordered  Valencia  to  abandon  his  position  at  the  entrenched 
camp  and  fall  back  upon  the  strong  reserve  at  San  Angel,  and 
thus  he  excuses  himself  for  having  suffered  another  signal  de 
feat,  and  charges  it  to  the  result  of  disobedience  of  orders  on 
the  part  of  Valencia.  But  I  think  that  Valencia  showed  more 
prudence  and  foresight  in  defending  his  works  to  the  last  ex 
tremity,  than  Santa  Anna  did  in  ordering  him  to  evacuate  them, 
for  it  was  decidedly  one  of  the  strongest  and  best  fortified  posi 
tions  between  that  and  the  city,  and  was  likely  to  give  General 
Scott  greater  trouble,  and  cost  him  dearer  to  take  it,  than  almost 
any  other  position  they  held.  I  think  the  great  blunder  of  that 
fight  may  very  justly  be  laid  at  the  door  of  Santa  Anna  himself, 
and  principally  consisted  in  his  refusing  to  aid  Valencia  with 
the  twelve  thousand  troops  of  infantry  and  cavalry  which  were 
hovering  in  sight,- and  in  easy  supporting  distance;  and  which, 
by  prompt  and  energetic  action,  might  have  enabled  Valencia 


138 

to  maintain  his  position,  and  have  checked  the  American  forces 
and  driven  them  back  upon  San  Augustin.  Many  of  the 
American  officers  considered  the  movement  against  so  strong 
and  well  defended  a  point  as  Contreras,  without  cavalry  or  ar 
tillery,  as  an  experiment  of  rather  doubtful  propriety,  while 
others  went  so  far  as  to  venture  some  shrewd  speculations  upon 
the  probable  possibility  of  a  total  failure,  and  the  ultimate  con 
sequences  of  being  driven  back  upon  San  Augustin,  with  the 
hope  of  turning  San  Antonio,  and  cutting  a  route  in  that  direc 
tion  towards  the  city. 

Worth  was  ordered  back  from  Contreras  with  instructions  to 
attack  San  Antonio  in  front  with  his  whole  force,  as  soon  as 
Pillow's  and  Twiggs'  divisions  could  reach  its  rear,  marching 
from  Contreras  by  the  way  of  San  Angel  and  Coyacan.  It 
was  considered  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  future  success 
ful  movements  of  the  army,  that  this  strong  position  should  be 
turned,  as  it  would  open  a  better  and  shorter  road  to  the  city  for 
the  siege  and  other  trains.  Worth  was  not  long  idle,  but  push 
ing  on  in  double  quick  time,  soon  appeared  with  his  whole 
force  before  the  gates  of  San  Antonio,  and  by  a  series  of  skill 
ful  and  daring  movements,  directed  mostly  against  the  front  and 
right,  he  finally  succeeded  in  forcing  and  turning  that  promi 
nent  and  troublesome  position.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that 
the  splendid  and  brilliant  victory  of  the  morning  over  the 
forces  of  Valencia,  which  was  considered  the  flower  of  the 
Mexican  army,  exercised  no  little  influence  on  the  minds  and 
courage  of  the  garrison  at  San  Antonia,  shaking  their  confi 
dence  in  themselves,  and  causing  them  to  falter  in  their  pur 
pose.  For  how  could  they  expect  to  stand  the  earthquake 
shock,  which  recent  victory  gave  a  double  impetus,  when  the 
strong  walls  of  Contreras  had  tumbled  down,  and  its  frightened 
garrison  fled  in  dismay  before  the  thundering  tramp  and  echo 
ing  shout  of  the  intrepid  and  fearless  sons  of  Washington. 

The  storming  of  San  Antonio  and  the  complete  rout  of  the 
garrison,  with  all  its  favorable  and  advantageous  results,  was 
the  second  brilliant  victory  which  had  crowned  the  zealous  and 
untiring  efforts  of  our  brave  and  gallant  troops  on  that  day,  and 
which  followed  each  other  in  such  quick  and  spirit  succession, 
striking  dismay  and  consternation  among  the  Mexican  forces, 
without  giving  them  time  to  halt  and  breathe  from  one  defeat  to 
another;  and  from  which  they  never  finally  recovered,  until  the 
proud  eagles  of  Anahuac  cowered  before  the  magic  influence 
of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  the  heaven-lit  banners  of  the 
brave  and  free,  floated  above  the  tottering  walls  of  the  proud 
city  of  the  Aztecs. 


IN  MEXICO.  139 

But  scarcely  had  the  shouts  of  victory  died  away  in  the  dis 
tance,  which  announced  the  fall  of  San  Antonio,  and  the  cap 
ture  and  rout  of  the  garrison,  when  the  guns  of  Taylor's  bat 
tery,  and  the  muskets  of  Twiggs'  division,  announced  the  open 
ing  of  the  ball  at  Churubusco,  telling  in  tones  of  thunder  that 
the  third  battle  of  that  day  had  already  commenced.  Worth 
having  accomplished,  by  a  few  gallant  and  daring  strokes  of 
generalship,  the  object  of  his  mission  to  San  Antonio,  and  see 
ing  no  further  active  employment  for  his  troops  at  that  point,  in 
stantly  united  the  different  portions  of  his  division  and  went  in 
hot  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy,  which  led  towards  the  next 
designated  field  of  action.  He  was  soon  joined  by  the  forces 
under  General  Pillow,  who  was  hastening  on  from  Coyoacan, 
by  order  of  the  General-in-Chief,  to  support  him  in  forcing  the 
works  of  San  Antonio;  but  on  hearing  that  that  point  had  al 
ready  been  earned  by  Worth,  he  immediately  turned  to  the  left, 
and  passing  a  very  rough  road  which  was  much  impeded  by 
ditches  and  swamps,  hastened  to  join  the  advanced  forces  in  the 
attack  on  Churubusco, 

One  of  the  strong  points  of  defence  at  Churubusco  was  a 
place  called  the  teie  du  pont,  which  was  a  strong  field  work, 
situated  near  the  bridge,  over  which  passes  the  main  road  from 
San  Antonio  towards  the  Capital.  The  other  was  a  fortified 
church  or  convent,  which  proved  to  be  a  very  formidable  posi 
tion,  and  one  which  gave  our  troops  much  trouble,  and  cost 
them  some  hard  fighting,  and  many  valuable  lives,  to  reduce. 
These  two  fortified  points  were  about  four  hundred  yards  apart, 
the  latter  of  which — the  convent — had  been  hotly  pressed  by 
Twiggs  for  more  than  an  hour  without  making  much  impression, 
or  gaining  any  important,  advantages,  when  the  respective  divi 
sions  of  Worth  and  Pillow  arrived,  and  commenced  operations 
with  great  spirit  and  effect  upon  the  teie  du  pont;  while  the 
convent,  or  base  of  Twiggs'  operations,  was  only  at  half  gun 
shot  to  the  left. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  whole  available  forces,  in  and  about  tho  Capital,  together 
with  the  routed  troops  of  Contreras  and  San  Antonio,  amount 
ing  in  all  to  near  thirty  thousand  men,  consisting  of  cavalry,  ar 
tillery  and  infantry,  collected  from  all  the  works  in  every  part 
of  the  Valley,  were  now  concentrated  within,  or  near  the  works 
in  front,  or  hanging  in  view,  and  upon  the  flanks,  and  all  within 


140  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

easy  supporting  distance,  every  one  of  whom  seemed  resolved 
to  make  a  last  and  'sanguinary  effort  to  save  the  Capital,  and 
arrest  the  foot  of  the  invader,  which  was  now  pressing  hard 
upon  them,  within  the  very  suburbs  of  the  city.  For  it  was 
well  known  to  all  parties,  that  if  fate  declared  against  the  Mex 
ican  arms  in  this  field,  and  they  were  driven  from  their  present 
position,  that  the  way  would  be  open  to  the  heart  of  the  Capi 
tal,  and  the  weaker  and  less  formidable  defenses  about  the 
gates  of  the  city,  which  was  now  only  four  miles  distant,  would 
scarcely  bring  our  enraged  and  maddened  troops  to  a  halt,  as 
they  swept  on  in  their  victorious  career  towards  the  Citadel. 
It  was  the  general  impression  of  the  army  that  Scott  intended 
to  enter  the  city  that  evening,  and  which  he  might  have  done 
with  all  possible  ease,  and  the  last  rays  of  that  day's  setting  sun 
might  have  thrown  the  golden  -tints  of  its  parting  beams  upon 
the  bright  folds  of  the  American  flag  as  it  floated  in  proud 
triumph  upon  the  tall  steeple'" of  the  National  Palace,  "The 
Capital  of  an  ancient  empire,"  says  General  Scott,  "now  of  a 
great  republic,  or  an  early  peace,  the  assailants  were  resolved 
to  win.  Not  an  American — and  we  were  less  than  a  third  of 
the  enemy's  numbers — had  a  doubt  as  to  the  result." 

The  enemy  were  playing  at  a  bloody  game,  in  which  their 
opulent  and  beautiful  city  was  the  stake,  and  which  they  were 
not  willing  should  be  lost  without  a  desperate  struggle,  and 
such  a  struggle  as  those  only  can  make  who  are  fighting  before 
their  own  doors,  with  their  wives  and  children  at  their  backs, 
urging  them  on  to  defend  their  altars  and  their  fires.  Every 
house  top,  and  dome,  and  steeple  of  that  immense  city  was  filled 
with  crowding  thousands  of  anxious  spectators  perhaps  relatives 
and  friends,  all  gazing  intently  upon  the  fearful  scene  ;  while  the 
pallid  cheek,  and  the  quick  pulsations  of  the  heart,  told  the 
mighty  interests  that  were  at  stake,  and  now  trembling  in  the 
balance  among  the  thunder  and  smoke  of  that  bloody  field. 
These  considerations  alone  were  sufficient  to  have  inspired 
every  heart  in  the  Mexican  army,  and  lit  up  the  dull  affections 
of  the  coldest  bosom  with  the  vestal  fires  of  patriotism,  and 
nerved  the  arm  of  the  most  inert  soldier  to  deeds  of  nobler 
daring. 

Garland's  brigade,  together  with  the  light  battalion  under 
the  orders  of  Colonel  Smith,  commenced  a  forward  movement 
in  order  to  reach  a  favorable  position,  from  which  to  commence 
an  assault,  if  necessary,  against  the  strong  and  formidable 
works  of  the  tete  du  pont,  which  was  executed  in  fine  style,  al 
though  the  advancing  columns  were  exposed  to  a  well-directed 
and  destructive  fire  from  a  long  line  of  infantry  which  had  been 


IN  MEXICO.  141 

posted  on  the  left  of  the  bridge,  Clark,  also  of  Worth's  divi 
sion,  ordered  his  brigade  to  move  in  the  same  direction  with 
the  assaulting  forces,  and  in  a  direct  line  along  the  main  road, 
and  close  by  its  side;  while  the  llth  and  14th  regiments  of  In 
fantry  from  Pillow's  division,  moved  to  the  support,  and  partici 
pated  in  the  direct  movement  against  the  works  in  front.  From 
the  peculiar  manner  in  which  they  were  compelled  to  advance, 
Clark's  brigade,  in  particular,  and  in  fact  the  whole  line  of  ad 
vancing  columns,  were  made  to  suffer  quite  severely  from  the 
very  spirited  fire  xvhich  was  kept  up  incessantly  from  the  ene 
my's  whole  line.  And  the  destruction  of  life  would  have  been 
much  greater,  caused  by  the  sharp-shooters  from  the  fortified  con 
vent,  which  would  have  poured  a  galling  fire  into  our  flanks, 
but  for  the  circumstance  of  Twiggs'  keeping  them  busy,  and 
their  attention  drawn  to  the  other  side  of  the  works,  where  he 
was  giving  them  some  pretty  warm  employment  about  that  time. 
The  assaulting  columns,  by  a  skilful  and  daring  movement, 
soon  reached  the  desired  position  which  had  bren  designated 
as  the  point  from  which  the  assault  was  to  commence,  when, 
with  a  shout  that  shook  the  trembling  works  of  the  enemy,  and 
startled  the  grim-visaged  men  at  their  guns,  the  charge  com 
menced,  and  the  strong  and  powerful  position  of  the  rock-bound 
tele  dupont  was  assaulted  and  carried  at  the  point  of  the  bayo 
net.  The  first  troops  across  the  deep  and  boggy  ditch  that  pro 
tected  the  enemy's  works,  were  the  gallant  8th  and  5th  Infantry, 
led  respectively  by  Major  Waite  and  Colonel  Scott,  which  was 
instantly  followed,  and  closely  pressed,  by  the  6th  Infantry  of 
the  same  brigade,  which  had  been  much  exposed  throughout  the 
day,  and  suffered  greatly  in  the  advance;  the  llth  and  14th, 
under  Colonels  Graham  and  Trousdale,  brought  up  the  rear, 
and  completed  the  rout.  About  the  same  moment,  Colonel 
Garland  succeeded  in  repulsing  the  enemy  in  his  front,  who 
had  stood  the  fierce  and  deadly  onset  for  near  two  hours,  but 
finally  gave  way  in  wild  and  confused  disorder,  and  sent  their 
flying  and  shattered  columns  in  a  hasty  retreat  towards  the 
Capital.  The  result  of  this  immediate  victory  was  the  capture 
of  three  field  pieces,  together  with  about  two  hundred  prison 
ers,  besides  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  and  military  stores, 
and  several  stands  of  colors.  Our  loss  was  also  pretty  severe ; 
among  those  who  fell  before  the  walls  of  the  enemy,  none 
was  more  universally  lamented  than  the  brave  and  accom 
plished  Lieutenant  J.  F.  Irons,  who  tell  mortally  wounded  by 
a  cannon  ball  just  before  the  works  were  carried ;  he  was  aid- 
de-camp  to  General  Cadwalader,  and  had  distinguished  him 
self  on  several  previous  occasions,  and  was  highly  respected 


142  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

and  beloved,  both  as  a  gentleman  and  an  officer,  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

It  is  very  evident  that  the  spirited  and  well  sustained  attack 
upon  the  fortified  church,  or  convent,  favored  very  much  the 
successful  termination  of  the  assault  on  the  tcte  du  pont,  and  to 
the  same  extent,  no  doubt,  the  fall  of  the  latter  had  a  reciprocal 
influence  in  securing  the  surrender  of  the  former.  Some  of 
the  captured  pieces  of  the  tete  du  pont  were  turned  and  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  convent  with  decided  effect,  while  Colonel 
Duncan  brought  two  of  his  guns,  at  short  range,  to  play  upon 
the  same  point,  from  a  position  on  the  San  Antonio  road;  the 
fearful  and  destructive  effects  of  which  were  soon  apparent  upon 
the  face  of  the  works  and  upon  the  tower  of  the  church.  The 
steeple  of  the  church  had  been  filled  at  all  times  with  the  ene 
my's  best  marksmen  and  most  skillful  sharp-shooters,  among 
whom  wrere  many  of  Riley's  deserters,  and  it  was,  no  doubt, 
their  shots  which  told  with  such  fearful  effect  upon  the  assault 
ing  columns,  for  they  fought  like  desperadoes  with  halters  about 
their  necks;  and  the  moment  one  of  them  would  fall  at  his  post, 
another  would  instantly  take  his  place ;  and  Santa  Anna  him 
self  remarked  that  if  he  had  had  a  few  hundred  more  such  men 
as  Riley's  he  would  have  gained  the  victory.  The  enemy's 
position  at  this  place  was  a  very  strong  one,  being  protected,  as 
they  were,  by  thick  stone  walls,  which  they  conceived  to  be 
impervious  to  the  advances  of  any  foe,  and  within  the  protect 
ing  arms  of  which  they  felt  secure  ;  but  Twiggs  soon  taught 
them  another  lesson,  and  the  guns  of  Duncan  and  Taylor  found 
them  in  their  hiding  places,  and  told  upon  the  most  vital  parts 
of  their  position  with  fearful  and  deadly  effect.  At  length, 
after  a  most  desperate  and  sanguinary  conflict,  which  raged 
with  unabated  fury  for  more  than  two  hours,  during  which  time 
the  lines  of  the  defense  and  assault  looked  like  blazing  m  <.u- 
zines  of  death;  while  the  thunder  of  the  cannon,  and  the  roar 
of  musketry,  shook  the  earth  for  miles  around,  and  rolled  the 
earthquake  tones  of  battle  over  the  tall  summits  of  the  distant 
mountains.  About  half  an  hour  after  the  fall  of  the  tele  du  pont, 
the  church,  or  fortified  convent,  including  the  whole  line  or  field 
works,  extending  far  along  the  ditch  or  rivulet  of  Churubusco, 
forming  a  complete  citadel  of  defense,  gave  way  before  the 
impetuous  onset  of  the  sweeping  columns  of  Twiggs'  division, 
and  instantly  hung  out  wrhite  flags  upon  various  parts  of  their 
works.  Captain  Alexander,  at  the  head  of  the  third  Infantry, 
has  the  credit  of  clearing  his  way  by  fire  and  bayonet,  and  be 
ing  the  first  to  enter  the  enemy's  works;  while  Captain  Smith 
and  Lieutenant  Shepherd,  with  their  respective  companies  of 


IN  MEXICO.  143 

the  same  regiment,  have  the  honor  of  heading  the  assault,  and 
entering  the  works  together;  the  former  of  which  was  fortunate 
enough  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  enemy ;  and  their  gal 
lant  leader,  Captain  Alexander,  instantly  displayed  the  colors 
of  his  regiment  from  the  balcony  of  the  church,  which  was  sa 
luted  by  the  long  and  loud  shouts  of  the  victorious  troops,  as 
column  after  column  rushed  into  the  captured  works.  This 
victory  is  called  by  General  Scott,  "the  fourth  grand  achieve 
ment  of  our  arms  on  the  same  day,"  and  which,  taking  into 
consideration  the  overwhelming  superiority  of  numbers,  and 
the  advantageous  positions  which  they  held,  with  many  other 
difficulties  which  our  army  had  to  meet  ahd  overcome,  is  with 
out  a  parallel  in  the  annals  ot  war.  Scott  had  marched  with 
giant  strides  from  conquest  to  conquest,  until  the  eagle  ot  victory, 
for  the  fourth  time  since  the  rising  of  the  morning's  sun,  had 
perched  with  bright  pinions  upon  the  banner  of  the  stars. 

Captain  Taylor,  with  his  splendid  field  battery,  acted  a  very 
effective  and  conspicuous  part  in  reducing  the  enemy's  works 
in  front;  he  commenced  operations  on  the  outer  walls  of  the 
convent  at  quite  an  early  stage  of  the  fight,  but  his  position 
was  a  very  exposed  one,  and  he  suffered  very  much  from  the 
galling  and  incessant  fire  which  swept  and  tore  through  his 
ranks  from  almost  the  whole  line  of  the  enemy's  front.  Not 
withstanding  the  very  perilous  and  critical  condition  of  this 
battery,  yet  the  officers  and  men  never  flinched  a  moment  from 
their  duty,  but  continued  to  blaze  away,  round  after  round,  at 
the  enemy  in  one  continued  roar,  enveloped  the  while  in  sheets 
of  fire  and  clouds  of  smoke,  the  effects  of  which  was  plainly 
perceptible  on  all  parts  of  the  point  of  attack.  But  at  length 
the  fire  became  so  hot  that  it  could  be  stood  no  longer,  and 
after  suffering  a  great  and  fearful  loss  of  both  men  and  horses, 
the  battery  was  ordered  to  be  withdrawn  from  the  scene  of 
action,  in  an  almost  totally  disabled  condition,  which  was  done 
only  about  half  an  hour  before  the  final  surrender  of  the  works. 
But  both  Captain  Taylor  and  his  officers  and  men  did  all  that 
could  have  been  expected  of  brave  and  experienced  troops,  and 
won  for  themselves  the  universal  applause  and  admiration  of 
the  whole  army.  This  victory  resulted  in  the  capture  of  seven 
field  pieces  of  large  calibre,  together  with  large  quantities  of 
ammunition  and  ordnance  stores,  and  one  stand  of  colors,  three 
generals,  and  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  prison 
ers,  including  other  officers  of  all  grades.  Our  loss  was  con 
siderable,  and  among  which  are  numbered  five  of  our  most 
gallant  and  experienced  officers,  who  gloriously  fell  amidst  the 
roar  of  battle,  before  the  enemy's  works,  fighting  gallantly  to 


144  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

the  last.  Some  two  hours  and  a  half  before  the  fall  of  these 
works,  Pierce's,  together  with  the  volunteer  brigade,  all  under 
the  command  of  Brigadier  General  Shields,  has  been  ordered, 
as  a  detachment,  to  move  towards  the  left,  in  order,  if  possible, 
to  turn  the  enemy's  works,  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  garrison, 
and  prevent  the  extension  of  the  enemy's  lines  from  the  rear, 
around,  and  upon  our  left.  The  numerical  strength  of  these 
two  brigades  were  considered  too  limited,  when  the  dangerous 
and  daring  object  of  the  movement,  and  the  great  difficulties 
which  lay  in  the  way  of  its  accomplishment,  were  brought  to 
view,  and  it  was  considered  necessary  to  detach  the  rifles, 
which  were  sent  forward  a  little  later,  as  a  reinforcement  to  the 
two  advanced  brigades.  The  direction  of  march  pursued  by 
Shields'  command  led  them  through  a  large  and  heavy  corn 
field,  which  having  been  passed,  it  reached  another  field  more 
open,  but  wet  and  swampy,  and  in  which  was  situated  the  haci 
enda  De  los  Portales,  beyond  which  was  discovered  the  route 
which  the  enemy  would  most  likely  pass  in  retiring  from  Chu- 
rubusco.  Here  was  also  found  posted  a  strong  reserve  of  about 
four  thousand  of  the  enemy's  best  troops,  occupying  a  position 
just  in  rear  of  the  town.  It  was  the  intention  of  Gen.  Shields, 
after  discovering  the  position  of  those  troops,  to  make  a  move 
ment  to  the  left,  and  endeavor  to  flank  the  enemy  on  his  right, 
and  throw  a  portion  of  his  troops  between  them  and  the  city. 
But  finding  their  right  supported  by  large  bodies  of  cavalry, 
numbering  more  than  three  thousand  strong,  and  the  ground 
over  which  he  would  have  to  pass  being  composed  of  deep 
muddy  marshes,  and  pools  of  standing  water,  he  deemed  it 
most  prudent,  under  the  circumstances,  to  withdraw  his  men 
under  cover  of  the  hacienda,  and  attack  the  enemy  in  front. 
The  Palmetto  regiment  was  selected  as  the  base  of  the  line  of 
battle  upon  which  the  other  troops  were  to  form,  and  from  which 
the  attack  on  the  enemy's  front  was  intended  to  have  commenced. 
This  gallant,  but  fated  regiment,  was  then  put  in  motion,  and 
with  firm  and  unflinching  step  moved  steadily  and  rapidly  for 
ward,  presenting  to  the  enemy  a  bold  and  unbroken  front,  and 
pressing  vigorously  onward  in  the  face  of  a  perfect  hail-storm 
of  musketry,  as  terrible  and  deadly  in  its  effects  as  any  body 
of  troops  was  ever  called  upon  to  meet.  But  onward,  and  still 
onward,  they  bent  their  steady  course,  although  their  fast  thin 
ning  columns  were  melting  away  like  snow-flakes  upon  the 
river,  and  rank  after  rank  would  sink  down  at  every  discharge ; 
but  they  continued  to  close  up  the  awful  gaps  and  push  forward, 
stumbling  over  the  dead  bodies  of  their  comrades.  At  length, 
the  fearful  cry  is  heard,  "  Butler  has  fallen  /" — a  half-suppressed 


IN  MEXICO.  145 


murmer  flashed  along  the  still  advancing  lines,  and  while  the 
unbidden  tear  bedewed  the  sun-burnt  cheek  of  the  warrior, 
muttering  curses  of  vengeance  were  heard  issuing  from  the 
clenched  teeth  of  that  orphan  regiment.  At  this  moment, 
General  Shields  is  seen  to  dash  along  their  lines,  exclaiming  in 
tones  that  chilled  the  heart's  blood,  " Palmetto es !  your  Colonel 
has  fallen!  Avenge  his  death!"  And  then  with  a  sliout  that 
shook  the  gory  field,  and  rolled  back  its  startling  echoes  from 
the  distant  hills,  they  bounded  forth,  hurling  their  ranks  of  liv 
ing  steel  in  the  face  of  the  astonished  and  panic-stricken  foe. 
It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment — a  shout — a  shriek — and  all 
was  over ;  the  enemy  was  flying  in  every  direction  like  broken 
fragments  of  angry  clouds,  rent  in  sunder  by  the  breath  of  the 
storm.  The  New  York  regiment,  under  its  brave  and  gallant 
leader,  ..Colonel  Burnett,  and  the  12th  and  15th  regiments  of  In 
fantry,  formed  in  beautiful  array,  their  long  extended  columns 
on  the  right,  the  9th  forming  on  the  left,  when  the  whole  col 
umn  advanced,  opening  a  brisk  and  steady  fire  as  they  came 
up,  and  moving  steadily  forward  upon  the  enemy's  lines.  The 
Mexicans  observing  this  movement,  began  to  falter  in  their  pur 
pose,  and  their  firing  grew  less  spirited  and  frequent.  At 
length  the  order  to  charge  was  given,  which  was  answered 
with  a  shout  and  a  bound,  and  in  a  moment  Shields'  whole  com 
mand  was  upon  them,  and  scattering  their  broken  and  disor 
dered  ranks,  finished  the  bloody  work  with  the  bayonet,  and 
sent  the  shattered  fragments  of  a  routed  army  flying  in  dense 
and  broken  masses  towards  the  city. 

Just  as  Shields  had  reached  the  main  road,  Worth's  division 
was  seen  in  the  distance,  driving  the  enemy  from  his  strong  po 
sition  at  Churubusco,  and  pursuing  him  like  a  tempest  towards 
the  gates  of  the  Capital.  Shields  commanding  the  advance, 
pushed  on  his  conquering  hosts,  pressing  hard  upon  the  enemy's 
rear,  cutting  down  his  ranks  at  every  step,  until  he  was  passed 
by  Hartley's  brigade  of  cavalry,  which  came  thundering  down 
the  road,  hurling  themselves  like  an  avalanche  upon  the  flying 
columns  of  the  routed  foe,  whom  they  pursued  to  the  very  walls 
of  the  city,  cutting  off  hundreds  whom  they  overtook  in  the 
flight,  leaving  the  track  strewed  with  the  dead  bodies  of  the 
frightened  fugitives.  This  was  the  fifth  victory  since  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  and  which  terminated  the  brilliant  and  unparalleled 
series  of  events  which  carried  our  victorious  army  in  triumph  to 
the  very  threshold  of  the  Mexican  Capital,  crowned  with  the 
green  laurels  reaped  from  the  bloody  harvest  of  five  well-fought 
and  well-won  fields  on  the  same  day.  And  these  master  strokes 
ot  generalship  followed  each  other  in  such  quick  and  spirited 
7 


146  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

succession,  that  the  blood  was  yet  warm  on  the  green  hills  of 
Contreras  ere  it  had  ceased  to  flow  at  the  gates  oi'  the  city. 

In  the  two  regiments  of  Shields'  brigade,  (South  Carolina 
and  New  York,)  numbering  only  about  eight  hundred  men  in 
the  fight  of  that  afternoon,  the  loss  is  computed  at  two  hundred 
and  fifty ;  the  Palmetto  regiment  alone  lost  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  in  killed  and  wounded,  among  the  former  was  its 
gallant  commander,  Colonel  Pierce  Mason  Butler,  who  had  left 
his  sick  bed  to  share  the  glory  and  face  the  dangers  of  the  bat 
tle  field,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  Early  in  the  fight  he  had 
his  horse  shot  under  him,  but  nothing  daunted,  he  leaped  from 
his  bleeding  charger,  and  urged  his  way  on  foot ;  a  few  steps 
further,  and  he  received  a  very  severe  wound  in  the  leg;  this 
stopped  him  but  for  a  moment,  for  as  soon  as  it  was  ascertained 
that  the  bone  was  not  fractured,  lie  hastily  bound  it  with  a 
handkerchief,  and  in  an  instant  was  again  upon  his  feet  and 
pressing  forward  towards  his  regiment  with  the  blood  from  his 
wound  still  flowing  and  unstaunched.  He  appears  again  at  the 
head  of  his  command,  encouraging  his  men,  and  urging  them 
on  to  deeds  of  noble  daring ;  but  the  pleasure  of  this  proud  and 
envious  position  was  of  short  duration,  for  just  as  the  charge 
was  sounded  he  received  the  fatal  shot  which  pierced  his  brain, 
and  he  fell  and  expired  without  a  groan.  Thus  died  the  brave 
and  lamented  Butler,  in  the  very  arms  of  victory,  and  on  the 
gory  field  of  his  well-won  fame,  while  his  fallen  men  lay  thick 
around  him,  adding  another  distinguished  name  to  the  bright 
roll  of  South  Carolina  chivalry. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Dickinson,  of  the  same  regiment,  also 
fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  head  of  his  command,  and  while 
gallantly  bearing  forward  the  colors  of  his  corps.  Major  Glad 
den  then  took  command  of  the  glorious  Palmettoes,  and  snatch 
ing  the  falling  standard  as  it  fell  from  the  hands  of  Dickinson, 
with  its  silken  folds  crimsoned  with  his  blood,  and  waving  it 
aloft  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  which  saluted  it  with  three 
cheers,  and  then  handing  it  to  Patrick  Leonard,  a  brave  and 
generous  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  who  gallantly  bore  it  forth, 
though  perfectly  riddled  with  bullets,  in  the  face  of  that  fearful 
storm  that  rained  its  leaden  deaths  so  thick  around.  And  in 
order  to  do  justice  to  all,  it  might  be  proper  to  remark  that 
Sergeant  Beggs  was  shot  down  with  the  colors  in  his  hand, 
beford  Leonard  received  them.  The  same  regiment  had  also 
to  lament  the  death  of  Lieutenants  Adams,  Clark,  and  Wil 
liams,  who  fell  fighting  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  and  stimu 
lating  their  men,  both  by  word  and  deed,  to  rush  upon  the 
treacherous  foe,  and  end  the  bloody  conflict  with  the  bayonet. 


IN  MEXICO.  147 

The  New  York  regiment  also  greatly  distinguished  itself,  and 
won  the  merited  applause  of  all.  Colonel  Burnett,  their  brave 
and  gallant  leader,  was  severely  wounded  early  in  the  action, 
when  the  command  of  his  regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Baxter,  whose  skill  and  courage  as  an  officer  were 
abundantly  manifested  from  the  regular  and  orderly  manner  in 
which  he  led  the  gallant  Yorkers,  inciting,  them  to  glorious 
deeds  of  daring  bravery. 

The  skillful  and  efficient  services  of  Doctors  Clark  and  Bland 
of  the  Palmetto  Regiment,  and  Doctors  Halstead  and  McKeb- 
bin  of  the  New  York  regiment,  were  spoken  of  in  the  highest 
terms  of  commendation  and  praise  by  General  Shields  in  his 
official  report.  In  this  last  engagement,  Shields'  command 
captured  four  hundred  prisoners,  among  whom  were  six  officers 
of  different  grades,  besides  forty-two  deserters,  at  the  head  of 
which  was  the  notorious  Colonel  Reily,  who  had  distinguished 
himself  and  command  by  his  vigorous  and  spirited  defence  of 
Monterey,  and  at  various  other  places  during  the  war;  his  men 
soon  met  the  fate  they  so  richly  deserved  at  the  arms  of  the 
gallows,  which  he  "himself  escaped,  and  is  now,  I  loarn,  a  pri 
soner  in  the  Castle  of  Perote.  General  Scott  says,  in  his  re 
port  of  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  that  "it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  the  rage  of  the  conflict  between  Shields'  command  and  the 
strong  forces  of  the  enemy,  in  rear  of  the  tete  du  pont  and  eon- 
vent,  had  some  influence  on  the  surrender  of  those  formidable 
defences." 

Thus,  in  one  single  day,  did  the  American  army,  consisting 
of  less  than  ten  thousand  men,  in  five  bloody,  successful,  and 
well-fought  battles,  completely  defeat  and  rout  30,000  of  the  | 
enemy's  forces,  taking  3,000  prisoners,  including  eight  general 
officers,  two  of  whom  had  filled  the  Presidential  chair  of  the 
Republic,  together  with  205  other"  officers  of  different  grades, 
besides  killing  and  wounding  4,000  of  the  rank  and  file,  while 
the  spirit  and  energy  of  the  entire  army  of  defence  were  com 
pletely  broken  down,  and  its  broken  columns  scattered  and  fly 
ing  in  every  direction.  Thirty-seven  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance 
fell  into  our  hands  upon  the  field,  besides  immense  numbers  of 
small  arms  of  every  quality  and  description,  and  a  very  large 
quantity  of  ammunition  and  military  stores.  Our  own  loss 
during  the  day  is  estimated  at  1,053,  including  killed  and 
wounded;  139  of  whom,  including  16  officers,  were  killed,  and 
876,  including  60  officers,  were  wounded. 

General  Quitman,  with  a  portion  of  his  division — the  3d 
Pennsylvania  regiment  of  volunteers,  and  a  detachment  of 
United  States  marines — were  left  to  guard  the  (Jepot  at  San 


148  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

Augustin,  where  had  been  placed  our  sick  and  wounded,  together 
with  the  siege  and  baggage  trains,  consequently  that  gallant 
General  was  driven  to  the  painful  necessity  of  lying  inactive 
durifig  the  exciting  and  stirring  scenes  that  surrounded  him, 
without  being  permitted  to  participate  in  the  glorious  achieve 
ments  of  the  day. 

General  Scott  has  been  censured  by  some  for  not  entering 
and  occupying  the  city  on  the  evening  of  the  20th,  when  his 
victorious  army,  flushed  with  victory,  and  confident  of  success, 
was  thundering  at  the  gates ;  and  which  he  himself  acknow 
ledges  he  could  have  done,  sword  in  hand,  with  a  very  trifling 
additional  loss.  But  he  was  restrained,  no  doubt,  by  proper  and 
humane  motives ;  denying  himself,  for  the  advancement  of  the 
vital  interests  of  both  nations,  the  eclat  which  would  have 
attended  the  triumphant  entry  of  a  victorious  general  into  the 
chief  city  of  a  wealthy  and  powerful  republic.  He  wished  to 
give  the  enemy  time  to  reflect  upon  the  propriety  of  negociating 
upon  the  subject  of  peace,  as  that  was  the  object  which  he  most 
desired  to  accomplish,  whenever  it  could  be  done  on  just  and 
honorable  terms,  and  he  intended  on  this  "occasion  to  afford 
them  another  opportunity  of  accepting  the  olive  branch  of  peace 
which  they  had  spurned  so  often  before-  Both  Mr.  Trist  and 
the  Commander-in-Chief  had  been  advised  by  the  friends  of 
peace,  among  whom  were  foreigners,  neutrals,  and  Americans 
residing  in  and  out  of  the  city,  to  be  as  moderate  as  justice 
would  admit,  and  guard  against  too  much  precipitation,  lest  a 
different  course  might  drive  the  enemy  to  despair,  and  thereby 
have  a  tendency  to  scatter  the  elements  of  peace,  and  protract 
the  satisfactory  adjustment  of  the  unfortunate  existing  difficul 
ties  between  the  two  nations.  He  expressed  a  willingness  to 
leave  something  to  this  excited  and  distracted  people,  which 
could  be  of  no  immediate  use  to  him,  and  which  might  serve 
them  as  a  point  upon  which  to  fall  back,  where  they  might  rest 
their  pride,  and  recover  their  temper,  and  prepare  for  cool,  de 
liberate  reflection  upon  their  present  wretched  and  hopeless 
condition,  which  might  have  a  tendency  to  bring  them  to  terms. 
Our  army,  with  some  manifestations  of  reluctance  on  their 
part,  was  halted  by  superior  orders  before  the  gates  of  the  city, 
where,  after  attending  to  the  dead  and  wounded,  they  sank  down 
exhausted  upon  the  ground,  and  snatched  a  few  hours  repose 
upon  the  bloody  field  of  their  last  sanguinary  effort.  The  deaf 
ening  roar  of  the  deep-mouthed  cannon  had  died  away,  and 
the  noisy  engines  of  death  were  hushed  and  still,  while  the 
murky  columns  of  sulphurious  smoke  hung  around  like  angry 
clouds,  shutting  out  the  soft  twilight,  shrouding  the  living  and 


Iff  MEXICO.  149 

the  dead — the  wearied  and  battle-worn  hosts,  as  with  the  pall 
of  death.  Many,  very  many,  slept  their  last  long  sleep  upon 
the  chilly  bosom  of  that  rent  and  torn  field,  over  which  the 
battle  storm  had  swept  in  its  wildest  fury,  and  from  which  they 
shall  only  awake  amid  the  rockings  of  time's  last  earthquake, 
and  the  falling  ruins  of  dissolving  nature.  Their  bones  repose 
beneath  the  cold  damp  sod  of  that  beautiful  valley,  while  they 
fatten  the  soil  of  the  enemy  with  as  pure  heart's  blood  as  ever 
flowed  from  patriot  breasts. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  General  Scott  was  making  pre 
parations  to  take  such  favorable  positions  as  would  enable  him 
to  open  his  heavier  pieces  with  advantage  upon  the  city,  and 
place  it  in  his  power  to  act  effectively  either  in  battering  or  as 
saulting  operations.  After  having  made  a  proper  disposition  of 
his  troops,  and  having  gained  the  advantageous  positions  con 
templated,  it  was  his  intention,  formally,  to  summon  the  city  to 
surrender  upon  honorable  conditions,  or  sign  an  armistice  for 
the  purpose  of  immediately  entering  into  negociations  for  peace. 
But  he  was  prevented  from  carrying  his  plans  into  operation  for 
the  time,  by  a  flag  of  truce  which  came  out  from  the  city  with 
propositions  for  the  suspension  of  hostilities,  the  terms  of  which 
was  rejected  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American 
forces.  General  Scott  then  declined  the  idea  of  sending  the 
contemplated  summons  to  surrender,  but  addressed,  instead 
thereof,  a  note  to  President  Santa  Anna,  the  result  of  which 
was  the  appointing  of  Commissioners  by  the  commanders  of 
both  armies  on  the  22d,  and  on  the  23d,  ratifications  were 
signed  by  the  said  Commissioners  thus  appointed,  and  on  the 
24th  those  ratifications  were  duly  exchanged,  and  an  armistice 
formally  entered  into  between  the  two  parties.  Thus  the 
causes  of  difference  and  grounds  of  dispute  between  the  two 
governments  were  placed  in  the  hands,  and  at  the  disposal  of 
their  plenipotentiaries,  and  which  was  immediately  followed  by 
a  total  suspension  of  hostilities,  pending  the  deliberations  of 
the  several  Commissioners.  During  which  time  the  different 
corps  of  the  invading  army  were  quartered  in  the  neighboring 
towns  and  villages,  where  they  were  protected  against  the  in 
clemencies  of  the  weather,  and  also  furnished  with  most  of  the 
conveniences  necessary  to  render  a  soldier's  life  tolerably  com 
fortable.  The  following  General  Orders,  No.  262,  contain 
the  sixteen  articles  setting  forth  the  terms  or  conditions  of  the 
armistice : 

7* 


150 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,  / 
Tacubaya,  August  24,  1847.      \ 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  262. 

The  following  Military  Convention  is  published  for  the  infor 
mation  and  strict  government  of  the  American  army,  its  retain 
ers  and  followers.  Any  infraction  of  one  or  more  articles  of 
the  said  Convention  shall  be  followed  by  rigorous  punishment : 

The  undersigned,  appointed  respectively,  the  three  first  by 
Major  General  Winfield  Scott,  commander-in-chicfofthe  armies 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  two  last  by  his  Excellency  D. 
Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna,  President  of  the  Mexican  Re 
public,  and  commander-in-chief  of  its  armies,  met  with  full 
powers,  which  were  duly  verified,  in  the  village  of  Tacubaya, 
on  the  22d  day  of  August,  1847,  to  enter  into  an  armistice,  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  the  Mexican  government  an  opportunity 
of  receiving  propositions  of  peace  from  the  Commissioner  ap 
pointed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  now  with  the 
American  army,  when  the  following  articles  were  agreed  upon  : 

Art.  1.  Hostilities  shall  instantly  and  absolutely  cease  be 
tween  the  armies  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  the 
United  Mexican  States,  within  thirty  leagues  of  the  Capital  of 
the  latter  States,  to  allow  time  to  the  Commissioner  appointed 
by  the  United  States,  and  the  Commissioners  to  be  appointed  by 
the  Mexican  Republic,  to  negociate. 

2.  This  armistice  shall  continue  as  long  as  the  Commission 
ers  of  the  two  Governments  may  be  engaged  in  negociations, 
or  until  the  commander  of  either  of  the  said  armies  shall  give 
formal  notice  to  the  other  of  the  cessation  of  the  armistice,  and 
for  forty-eight  hours  after  such  notice. 

3.  In  the  mean  time,  neither  army  shall,  within  thirty  leagues 
of  the  city  of  Mexico,  commence  any  new  fortifications,  or  mil 
itary  work  of  offence  or  defence,  or  do  any  thing  to  enlarge  or 
strengthen  any  existing  work  or  fortification  of  that  character 
within  the  said  limits. 

4.  Neither  army  shall  be  reinforced  within  the  same.     Any 
reinforcements  in  troops  or  munitions  of  war,  other  than  sub 
sistence  now  approaching  either  army,  shall  be   stopped   at 
the  distance  of  at  least  twenty-eight  leagues  from  the  city  of 
Mexico. 

5.  Neither  army,  nor  any  detachment  from  it,  shall  advance 
beyond  the  line  it  at  present  occupies. 

6.  Neither  army,  nor  any  detachment  or  individual  of  either, 
shall  pass  the  neutral  limits  established  by  the  last  article,  ex 
cept  under  flags  of  truce  bearing  the  correspondence  between 
the  two  armies,  or  on  business  authorized  by  the  next  article ; 


IN  MEXICO.  151 

and  individuals  of  either  army  who  may  chance  to  straggle 
within  the  neutral  limits,  shall,  by  the  opposite  party  be  kindly 
warned  off,  or  sent  back  to  their  own  army  under  flags  of  truce. 

7.  The  American  army  shall  not  by  violence  obstruct  the 
passage  from  the  open  country  into  the  city  of  Mexico,  of  the 
ordinary  supplies  of  food  necessary  to  the  consumption  of  its 
inhabitants,  or  the  Mexican  army  within  the  city;  nor  shall  the 
Mexican  authorities,  civil  or  military,  do  any  act  to  obstruct  the 
passage  of  supplies  from  the  city  or  country  needed  by  the 
American  army. 

8.  All  American  prisoners  of  war  remaining  in  the  hands  of 
the  Mexican  army,  and  not  heretofore  exchanged,  shall  imme 
diately,  or  as  soon  as  practicable,  be  restored  to  the  American 
army  against  a  like  number  (having  regard  to  rank)  of  Mexican 
prisoners  captured  by  the  American  army. 

9.  *     *     *     *      [Omitted.]     (See  Mexican  ratification;) 

10.  The  better  to  enable  the  belligerent  armies  to  execute 
these  articles,  and  to  favor  the  great  object  of  peace,  it  is  further 
agreed  between  the   parties,  that  any  courier  with  despatches 
that  either  army  shall  desire  to  send  along  the  line  from  the 
city  of  Mexico,   or  its  vicinity,  to  and  from  Vera  Cruz,  shall 
receive  a  safe   conduct  from  the  commands  of  the  opposing 
army. 

11.  The  administration  of  justice  between  Mexico,  accord 
ing  to  the  General  and  State  constitutions   and  laws,  by  the 
local  authorities  for  the  towns   and   places   occupied  by  the 
American  forces,  shall  not  be  obstructed  in  any  manner. 

12.  Persons  and  property  shall  be  respected  in  the  towns 
and  places  occupied  by  the  American  forces.     No  person  shall 
be  molested  in  the   exercise  of  his  profession;  nor  shall  the 
services  of  any  one  be  required  without  his  consent.     In  all 
cases  where  services  are  voluntarily  rendered,  a  just  price  shall 
be  paid ;  and  trade  remain  unmolested. 

13.  Those  wounded  persons  who  may  desire  to  remove  to 
some  convenient  place  for  the  purpose  of  being  cured  of  their 
wounds,  shall  be  allowed  to  do  so  without  molestation,  they  still 
remaining  prisoners  of  war. 

14.  Those  Mexican  medical  officers  who  may  wish  to  attend 
the  wounded,  shall  have  the  privilege  of  doing  so,  it  their  ser 
vice  be  required. 

15.  For  the  more  perfect  execution  of  this  agreement,  two 
Commissioners   shall  be  appointed — one  by  each  party — who, 
in  case  of  a  disagreement,  shall  appoint  a  third. 

16.  This  Convention  shall  have  no  force  or  effect  unless  ap 
proved  by  their  Excellencies  the   commanders  respectively  of 


152  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

the  two  armies,  within  twenty-four  hours,  reckoning  from  6 
o'clock,  a.  m.,  of  the  22dday  of  August,  1847. 

J.  A.  QUITMAN,  Major  General  U.  S.  A. 

PERSIFER  F.  SMITH,  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

FRANKLIN  PIERCE,  Brigadier  General  U.  S.  A. 

IGNACIO  DE  MORA  Y  V1LLAMIL. 

BENITO  QUIJANO. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.  OF  AMERICA,  ) 
Tacubaya,  August  23,  4847.      $ 

Considered,  approved,  and  ratified,  with  the  express  under 
standing  that  the  word  "supplies,"  as  used  the  second  time,  and 
without  qualification,  in  the  second  article  of  this  Military  Con 
vention,  (American  copy,)  shall  be  taken  to  mean — as  in  both 
the  British  and  American  armies — arms,  ammunition,  clothing, 
equipments,  subsistence,  (for  men,)  forage,  money,  and  in 
general  all  the  wants  of  the  army.  That  word  "supplies"  in 
the  Mexican  copy  is  erroneously  translated  "viveres"  instead 
of  recursos.  WINFJELD  SCOTT, 

General-in-Chief  U.  S.  Army. 

PALACIO  NATIONAL  DE  MEXICO,  ) 
August  24,  de  1847.      ] 

Ratificando,  suprimiendose  el  articulo  9°  y  con  esplicacion 
del  4°  en  el  scntido  de  que  la  paz  temporal  de  este  armisticio 
se  observara  en  la  capital  y  veinte  ocho  leguas  al  rededor; 
convenido  en  que  la  palabra  supplies  se  traduzca  recursos,  y 
que  en  ella  se  comprenda  lo  que  pueda  haber,  menesta  el 
ejercito,  escepto  armas  y  municiones. 

ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.  OF  AMERICA, 
Tacubaya,  August  24,  4847. 

I  accept  and  ratify  the  foregoing  qualifications  added  by  the 
President  General  of  the  Mexican  Republic. 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Scott. 

H.  L.  SCOTT,  A.  A.  A.  General. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S.  OF  AMERICA,  > 
Tacubaya,  September  6,  4847.      f 

To  His  Excellency  the  President  and  General-in-Chief  of  the 

Mexican  Republic :. 

SIR:  The  7th  article,  as  also  the  12th,  that  stipulates  that 
trade  shall  remain  unmolested — of  the  armistice,  or  Military 


IN  MEXICO.  153 

Convention,  which  I  had  the  honor  to  ratify  and  to  exchange 
with  your  Excellency  the  24th  ultimo — have  been  repeatedly 
violated,  beginning  soon  afterdate,  on  the  part  of  Mexico;  and 
I  now  have  good  reason  to  believe  that,  within  the  last  forty, 
eight  hours,  if  not  earlier,  the  3d  article  of  that  Convention 
has  been  equally  violated  by  the  same  party.  Those  direct 
breaches  of  faith  give  to  this  army  the  most  perfect  right  to 
resume  hostilities  against  Mexico  without  any  notice  whatever; 
but  to  allow  time  for  possible  explanation,  apology  and  repara 
tion,  I  now  give  formal  notice  that,  unless  full  satisfactions  on 
those  allegations  should  be  received  by  me  before  12  o'clock, 
meridian,  to-morrow,  I  shall  consider  the  said  armistice  at  an 
end  from  and  after  that  hour. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  Excellency's  most  obedrent 
servant,  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

Head  Quarters,  Army  of  Mexican  Republic,  ) 
MEXICO,  September  6,  1847,      ] 

SIR  :  By  the  note  of  your  Excellency,  under  this  date,  I  learn 
with  surprise  that  you  consider  that  the  civil  and  military  au 
thorities  of  Mexico  have  violated  articles  seven,  twelve,  and 
three,  of  the  armitice  which  I  concluded  with  your  Excellency 
on  the  24th  of  last  month.  The  civil  and  military  authorities 
of  Mexico  have  not  obstructed  the  passage  of  provisions  for  the 
American  army;  and  if  at  times  their  transmission  has  been 
retarded,  it  has  been  owing  to  the  imprudence  of  the  American 
agents,  who,  without  having  a  previous  understanding  with  the 
proper  authorities,  gave  occasion  for  popular  outbreaks,  which 
it  has  caused  the  Mexican  government  much  trouble  to  repress. 
Last  night  and  the  night  before,  the  escorts  for  the  provision 
train  were  ready  to  start,  and  were  only  detained  because  Mr. 
Hargous,  the  agent,  desired  it.  The  orders  given  to  suspend 
the  intercourse 'between  the  two  armies  were  addressed  to  pri 
vate  individuals,  and  not  to  the  agents  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  and  were  intended  purposely  to  expedite  the  transmission 
of  provisions  to  the  army,  by  confining  the  intercourse  to  that 
object  exclusively.  In  return  for  this  conduct,  your  Excellency 
has  prevented  the  owners  or  managers  of  the  grain  mills  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  city  from  furnishing  any  flour  to  the  city,  which 
is  a  breach  of  the  good  faith  your  Excellency  had  pledged  to 
me.  It  is  false  that  any  new  work  or  fortification  has  been  un 
dertaken,  because  one  or  two  repairs  have  only  served  to  place 
them  in  the  same  condition  they  were  on  the  day  the  armistice 
was  entered  into;  accident,  or  the  convenience  of  the  moment 


154  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

having  caused  the  destruction  of  the  then  existing  works.  I 
had  very  early  notice  of  the  establishment  of  the  battery  behind 
the  mud  wall  of  the  house  called  Garay's,  in  the  town  occu 
pied  by  you,  and  did  not  remonstrate,  because  the  peace  ot  the 
two  great  republics  could  not  be  made  to  depend  upon  things 
grave  in  themselves,  but  of  little  value  compared  to  the  result 
in  which  all  the  friends  of  humanity  and  of  the  prosperity  of 
the  American  continent  take  so  great  an  interest.  It  is  not 
without  great  grief,  and  even  indignation,  that  I  have  received 
communications  from  the  cities  and  villages  occupied  by  the 
army  of  your  Excellency,  in  relation  to  the  violation  of  the 
temples  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God;  to  the  plunder  of  the 
sacred  vases>  and  to  the  profanation  of  the  images  venerated  by 
the»Mexican  people.  Profoundly  have  I  been  afflicted  by  the 
complaints  of  fathers  and  husbands,  of  the  violence  offered  to 
their  daughters  and  wives ;  and  these  same  cities  and  villages 
have  been  sacked,  not  only  in  violation  of  the  armistice,  but 
of  the  sacred  principles  proclaimed  and  respected  by  civilized 
nations.  I  have  observed  silence  to  the  present  moment,  in 
order  not  to  obstruct  the  progress  of  the  negociations  which 
held  out  the  hope  of  terminating  a  scandalous  war,  and  one 
which  your  Excellency  has  characterized  so  justly  as  unnatural. 
But  I  shall  desist  offering  apologies,  because  1  cannot  be  blind 
to  the  truth,  that  the  true  cause  of  threats  of  renewing  hostili 
ties,  contained  in  the  note  of  your  Excellency,  is,  that  I  have 
not  been  willing  to  sign  a  treaty  which  would  .'essen  considera 
bly  not  only  the  territory  of  the  republic,  but  that  dignity  and 
integrity  which  all  nations  defend  to  the  last  extremity.  And  if 
these  considerations  have  not  the  same  weight  in  the  mind  of 
your  Excellency,  the  responsibility  before  the  world,  who  can 
easily  distinguish  on  whose  side  is  moderation  and  justice,  will 
fall  upon  you.  I  flatter  myself  that  your  Excellency  will  be 
convinced,  on  calm  reflection,  of  the  weight  of  my  reasons. 
But  if,  by  misfortune,  you  should  seek  only  a  pretext  to  deprive 
the  first  city  of  the  American  continent  of  an  opportunity  to  free 
the  unarmed  population  of  the  horrors  of  war,  there  will  be  left 
me  no  other  means  of  saving  them  but  to  repel  force  by  force, 
with  the  decision  and  energy  which  my  high  obligation  imposes 
upon  me. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  Excellency's  very  obedient 
servant,  ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 

A  true  copy  of  the  original.     Mexico,  September  7,  1847. 

JOSE  DK  ROMERO. 


t$  MEXICO.  155 

It  appears  from  the  foregoing  correspondence  of  the  com 
manders  of  the  two  armies,  that  three  articles  of  the  armistice 
had,  in  the  opinion  of  the  American  commander,  been  violated 
repeatedly  on  the  part  of  Mexico ;  and  laboring  under  these 
convictions,  he  addressed  a  note  to  General  Santa  Anna,  under 
date  of  the  6th  of  September,  in  which  he  informs  his  Excel 
lency,  that  unless  a  full  and  satisfactory  explanation  of  the 
matter  be  received  before  12  o'clock,  meridian,  on  the  next  day, 
he  should  consider  the  armistice  at  an  end  from  and  after  that 
hour,  and  proceed  to  direct  his  operations  accordingly.  Santa 
Anna  replies  in  a  tolerably  long  and  desultory  letter  of  the  same 
date,  in  which  he  endeavors  to  evade  or  dei»y  the  allegations 
contained  in  General  Scott's  note ;  and  after  some  vague  and 
bitter  recrimination,  finally  charges  him  of  being  governed 
in  this  particular  by  some  ulterior  and  improper  motive. 

Apart  from  the  objectionable  tone  and  temper  of  this  reply 
of  the  Mexican  commander,  and  the  harsh  and  indelicate  lan 
guage  in  which  it  is  cGuched,  he  gives  us  a  specimen  of  his 
bombast  and  play  upon  words,  and  totally  fails  to  give  a  satis 
factory  explanation  of  his  objectionable  conduct  in  regard  to  the 
violation  of  the  terms  of  the  armistice,  and  hence  the  General- 
in-Chief  of  the  American  forces  proceeds  forthwith  to  make 
preparations  for  the  re-commencement  of  hostilities. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  a  complete  reconnoisance  of  the 
enemy's  works  near  the  castle  of  Chapultepec  was  made,  ac 
companied  in  person  by  General  Worth  and  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  when  it  was  determined  that  the  first  movement  should 
be  made  against  that  point  of  the  Mexican  fortifications  called 
"El  Molinodel  Rey,"  or  the  King's  Mill,  where  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  there  was  a  foundry  for  moulding  cannon,  which 
was  then,  and  had  been  in  successful  operation  for  some  time 
past.  This  position  of  the  enemy  was  pronounced  by  the  re- 
connoitering  party  a  very  strong  and  well-defended  point,  ex 
hibiting  a  series  of  long  extended  lines  of  numerous  cavalry 
and  infantry  corps,  and  which  were  sustained  by  a  heavy  field 
battery  of  four  guns,  and  occupying  a  continuous  or  collateral 
line  of  defenses  connected  with  the  summit  and  Castle  of  Cha 
pultepec. 

These  operations  resulted  in  a  very  thorough  examination 
and  satisfactory  knowledge  of  the  size  and  extent  of  those  works, 


156  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

together  with  the  number  and  disposition  of  the  forces.  But 
the  final  results  will  show  that  the  Engineers  were  in  some 
measure  deceived,  and  that  very  little  correct  information  was 
gained  as  to  the  strength  of  the  works  and  the  number  of  guns 
mounted,  as  some  of  the  batteries  were  carefully  masked,  and 
concealed  to  an  extent  which  rendered  it  almost  impossible  to 
learn  any  thing  definite  about  them. 

General  Worth's  division,  reinforced  by  Cadwalader's  bri 
gade,  consisting  of  about  eight  hundred  men,  together  with 
three  squadrons  of  dragoons,  and  one  company  of  mounted 
riflemen,  numbering  in  all  about  two  hundred  and  seventy  men, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Sumner,  2d  dragoons ;  and  the 
field  artillery  and  battering  guns  belonging  to  the  commands  of 
Captains  Drum  and  Huger,  were  ordered  by  the  Commandcr- 
in-Chief  to  be  attached  to  the  command  of  General  Worth, 
and  be  in  readiness  to  move  against  the  stone  wails  of  Molino 
del  Rey  at  day-light  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth.  It  appears 
that  the  prime  object  of  this  movement  was  the  destruction  of 
the  machinery  and  material  composing  the  foundry  and  works 
for  casting  cannon  in  and  about  El  Molino  del  Rey;  and 
Worth's  operations  for  that  day  was  limited  by  superior  orders 
to  that  particular  point,  although  forming  an  immediate  junction 
with  the  stronger  works  of  the  castle  on  the  hill.  After  the  re 
duction  of  these  works,  the  rout  of  the  foe,  and  the  destruction 
of  the  machinery,  which  was  the  special  object  which  Worth, 
with  his  command,  was  directed  to  accomplish,  he  was  ordered 
to  withdraw  his  forces  immediately,  and  march  them  directly 
back  to  their  former  position  in  the  village  of  Tacubaya,  and 
report  to  General  head-quarters.  Captain  Mason,  of  the  En 
gineers,  had,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  made  a  careful,  but 
bold  and  daring  reconnoisance,  in  which  he  had  been  enabled 
to  make  many  important  observations  and  discoveries  which 
were  of  infinite  advantage  to  the  assaulting  forces  in  their  sub 
sequent  movements.  On  the  enemy's  left  was  a  number  of 
very  strong  and  substantial  stone  buildings,  which  were  called 
Molino  del  Rey,  (King's  Mill,)  and  which  contained  the  foundry 
and  machinery  in  question,  and  which  was  defended  by  a  large 
body  of  troops  forming  their  extreme  left.  These  mills  were 
contiguous  to  a  beautiful  and  extensive  grove  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  and  immediately  under  the  guns  of  the  castle  upon  its 
summit.  The  extreme  right  of  the  line  of  fortifications  extended 
towards,  and  rested  upon,  another  large  building  equally  strong 
and  defensible,  and  likewise  built  of  stone,  with  immensely 
thick  and  almost  impregnable  walls,  and  is  known  by  the  appel 
lation  of  "  Casa  Mata,"  and  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 


IN  MEXICO.  157 

that  reaches  towards  the  village  of  Tacubaya,  and  slopes  gently 
and  gradually  thence  to  the  level  and  extensive  plain  below. 
At  a  proper  intermediate  distance  between  these  two  strong 
and  well-fortified  positions,  they  had  erected  their  field  battery, 
on  either  side  of  which  were  arranged  the  enemy's  heavy  bat 
talions  and  long  extended  lines  of  infantry,  which  were  intended 
to  cover  and  support  it  in  case  of  an  assault.  The  reconnoi- 
sance  was  repeated  on  the  afternoon  of  the  7th  by  Captain 
Mason  and  Colonel  Duncan,  and  with  the  same  results  as  be 
fore,  and  corroborating  the  conclusion  that  the  centre  of  the 
enemy's  line  of  works  was  the  weakest  point,  and  that  his 
flanks  were  stronger,  and  would  be  more  difficult  to  turn,  espe 
cially  the  one  on  the  left,  or  the  main  works  of  the  mill,  com 
posed  of  strong  stone  houses.  This  whole  line  of  defense  was 
almost  immediately  connected  with,  and  overlooked  by,  the 
stronger  works  of  the  Castle  and  Citadel  on  the  heights  above, 
so  much  so  that  both  appeared  like  only  one  continuous  line  of 
fortifications ;  and  as  Worth's  operations  were  limited  to  the 
works  more  immediately  connected  with  the  mill,  it  became  his 
object  to  isolate  the  designated  point  of  his  attack  as  much  as 
possible  from  those  about  the  summit  of  Chapultepec. 

In  order  to  accomplish  this  object,  it  became  necessary  to 
make  a  very  judicious  and  skillful  disposition  of  his  troops,  so 
as  to  avoid  engaging  the  whole  line  at  once,  and  enable  him  to 
direct  the  united  energies  of  his  whole  force  against  El  Molino 
del  Rey,  and  the  works  more  immediately  connected  with  it. 
Colonel  Garland,  with  his  brigade,  was  ordered  to  take  a  favor 
able  position  on  the  right,  which  was  at  the  same  time  support 
ed  and  strengthened  by  two  pieces  from  Captain  Drum's  field 
battery,  which  might  render  effective  service,  either  against  the 
enemy's  position  in  front,  or  assist  in  battering  the  works  about 
El  Molino  del  Rey,  as  circumstances  might  require.  The 
heavier  battering  guns,  which  were  designed  to  play  more  par 
ticularly  upon  the  thick  stone  walls,  were  under  the  skillful  and 
scientific  direction  of  Captain  Huger,  who  placed  them  on  a 
ridge  or  rising  spot  of  ground  some  six  hundred  yards  in  front 
of  the  strong  and  almost  impregnable  position  of  the  King's 
mill,  with  the  object  of  breaking,  if  possible,  the  connecting 
link  between  it  and  the  Castle. 

A  body  of  troops,  composed  of  detachments  of  picked  men 
taken  from  all  arms  of  the  service,  to  the  number  of  about  six 
hundred,  was  organized  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Major 
Wright,  of  the  8th  Infantry,  and  ordered  to  occupy  a  position  on 
a  small  mound  to  the  left  of  Captain  Huger's  battery,  with  di 
rections,  if  found  practicable,  to  force  the  centre  of  the  works 


158 

in  front,  and  thereby  capture  the  field  battery  of  four  guns  that 
was  planted  there,  and  turn  the  pieces  against  the  retreating  foe. 
Clark's  brigade,  now  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Mcln- 
tosh,  supported  by  Duncan's  battery,  was  ordered  to  be  posted 
farther  up  the  ridge  or  mount,  and  parallel  with  the  enemy's 
position  on  the  right,  with  directions  to  sustain  our  left  flank,  if 
necessary,  and  also  to  support  the  assaulting  columns,  and 
otherwise  annoy  the  enemy  to  the  extent  that  their  position  and 
advantages  of  ground  might  enable  them.  It  was  thought  pro 
per  that  Cadwalader's  brigade  should  be  retained  as  a  reserve, 
occupying  a  favorable  position  on  the  hill,  and  at  a  medium 
distance  between  the  position  of  Duncan's  battery  and  Colonel 
Mclntosh's  brigade,  so  that  it  could  conveniently  support  either 
in  case  it  became  necessary.  The  cavalry  force  under  Major 
Sumner  Avas  ordered  to  hold  a  posilion  far  on  the  extreme  left 
of  our  lines,  there  to  await  the  issue  of  circumstances,  which 
might,  in  the  judgment  of  their- leader,  render  their  service 
effective,  either  in  sustaining  the  infantry,  attacking  the  foe,  or 
pursuing  the  routed  and  scattered  forces. 

The  foregoing  arrangements  being  agreed  upon  as  the  most 
proper  and  judicious  disposition  of  the  attacking  forces,  they 
were  then  ordered  to  take  up  their  various  designated  positions 
under  cover  of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  commence  the 
attack  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  or  as  soon  as  the  heavier 
pieces  could  be  properly  brought  to  bear.  Accordingly,  about 
3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  ever  memorable  8th  of  Sep 
tember,  Worth's  whole  command  was  put  in  motion,  each  col 
umn  taking  the  route  leading  most  directly  to  its  appointed  posi 
tion.  This  difficult  and  important  movement  was  made  with 
the  most  consummate  skill  and  precision,  so  that  when  the 
morning  dawned,  and  the  gray  mists  were  swept  from  the 
mountain  tops,  every  corps  was  found  in  its  proper  place,  and 
waiting  with  anxious  expectation  for  the  signal  which  bade 
them  commence  that  bloody  day's  work.  But  their  suspense 
was  of  short  duration,  for  as  soon  as  the  first  faint  streaks  of 
light  revealed  to  view  the  enemy's  works,  Huger's  guns  let 
loose  upon  them  in  fire  and  smoke,  which  made  their  stubborn 
walls  to  tremble  "  from  turret  to  foundation  stone,"  announcing 
the  fact  to  both  armies  in  tones  of  thunder  that  active  opera 
tions  had  commenced. 

Those  heavy  battering  pieces  continued  to  play  with  much 
energy  and  spirit  upon  this  particular  point  of  the  opposing 
lines,  (El  Molino  del  Rey,)  until  the  effect  of  their  incessant 
and  well-directed  fire  was  apparent  to  all.  The  guns  were 
twenty-four-pounders,  and  were  well-manned  by  a  competent 


IN  MEXICO.  159 

and  efficient  artillery  corps,  under  the  direction  of  brave  and 
experienced  officers ;  so  that  flash  after  flash  succeeded  each 
other  in  such  quick  and  spirited  succession,  that  it  gave  the  bat 
tery  the  appearance  of  a  volcano,  belching  forth  volume  after 
volume  of  smoke  and  flames  to  such  a  degree  that  the  men  and 
guns  were  frequently  hid  from  view  by  the  sheets  of  fire  and 
wreaths  of  vapory  clouds  that  completely  enveloped  them. 
Every  shot  struck  the  designated  point,  and  told  with  startling 
effect  upon  the  strong  defenses  of  the  foe,  until  that  portion  of 
his  line  of  works  became  evidently  shaken,  and  his  forces  in 
some  degree  panic  struck. 

Major  Wright,  who  commanded  the  storming  party,  observ 
ing  this  favorable  crises  in  the  affairs  of  the  day,  and  thinking 
that  it  afforded  him  an  opportunity  for  a  display  of  the  efficient 
services  of  his  corps,  immediately  put  his  columns  in  motion, 
and  dashed  forward  to  the  assault.  Notwithstanding  the  gall 
ing  fire  of  musketry  and  cannon  balls  which  swept  the  field  in 
every  direction,  yet  their  impetuous  course  was  onward,  and 
onward  they  went  like  the  deadly  blast  of  the  whirlwind,  in  the 
face  of  the  wasting  storm  of  iron  hail  that  rained  among  their 
ranks;  nothing  could  withstand  their  resistless  onset;  they 
rushed  up  to  the  very  mouths  of  the  cannon,  driving  the  panic 
stricken  columns  of  artillary  and  infantry  before  them.  The 
gunners  were  driven  from  their  pieces  at  the  point  of  the  bay 
onet,  while  their  field  battery  was  captured,  and  the  guns 
wheeled  round  and  opened  with  deadly  effect  upon  the  retreat 
ing  forces,  scattering  death  and  destruction  among  the  broken 
ranks  and  mingled  masses  of  those  who  had  stood  by  and  mann 
ed  them  but  a  moment  before. 

The  enemy  soon  discovering  what  a  mere  handful  of  men 
had  routed  them  and  taken  their  battery,  instantly  rallied  their 
broken  battalions  and  made  a  desperate  effort  to  regain  it,  and 
aided  by  large  bodies  of  infantry  from  the  house  tops  and  be 
hind  walls,  they  opened  a  most  galling  and  destructive  fire  of 
musketry  from  their  whole  line,  upon  the  assaulting  party, 
which  immediately  struck  down  eleven  officers  out  of  the  four 
teen  which  composed  the  command,  together  with  a  like  pro 
portion  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates ;  among  the 
number  was  Major  Wright,  the  commander,  and  Captain  Ma 
son  and  Lieutenant  Foster  of  the  Engineers,  all  of  whom  were 
severely  wounded,  This  was  indeed  a  bloody  day  to  the  as 
saulting  party,  and  they  would  have  suffered  still  more  severely 
had  not  the  light  battalion  under  Captain  Smith,  and  the  right 
wing  of  Cadwalader's  brigade,  been  sent  forward  to  support 
them.  For  it  is  evident,  from  the  manner  in  which  Major 


160 

Wright's  party  stood  the  wasting  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  that, 
too,  from  more  than  four  times  their  own  number,  that  they  had 
determined  to  hold  the  position  they  had  gained,  and  fight  for  it 
to  the  last,  though  it  might  cost  them  the  last  man  they  had. 
But  succor  arrived  in  time  io  save  a  fragment  of  this  forlorn 
hope,  and  enable  them  to  drive  the  enemy  still  further  back, 
and  possess  themselves  permanently  of  the  point  they  had 
gained.  But  during  this  time,  the  troops  destined  to  act  upon 
other  portions  of  the  work  were  by  no  means  idle.  Garland's 
brigade,  supported  by  Captain  Drum's  battery,  was  doing  most 
effectual  service  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  lines,  where  was 
posted  some  of  their  best  troops  and  strongest  defenses,  and 
after  an  obstinate  and  bloody  conflict,  which  was  well  sustained 
on  both  sides,  and  ended  in  crossing  bayonets  and  some  hand- 
to-hand  fighting,  the  enemy  were  again  driven  from  their  appa 
rently  impregnable  position,  with  the  advantage  of  being  situ 
ated  almost  under  the  very  guns  of  the  Castle  of  Chapultepec. 
The  Mexicans  defended  their  works  with  great  obstinacy, 
and  fought  with  a  degree  of  courage  and  energy  rather  unusual, 
as  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  will  show.  But  they  were 
eventually  compelled  to  give  way  before  the  superior  skill  and 
courage  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  warrior,  totally  unable  to  with 
stand  the  fierce  attack  and  impetuous  charge  of  those  who 
knew  nothing  but  to  conquer,  and  whose  watchword  was  vic 
tory  or  death.  Those  who  are  disposed  to  think  that  Mexican 
soldiers  cannot,  or  will  not,  fight,  need  only  to  have  been  at 
Molino  d«l  Roy  on  that  bright  and  beautiful  morning  of  the  8th 
of  September,  1847,  to  have  changed  their  opinions  in  some 
particulars  at  least.  It  is  true  they  cannot  generally  stand  a 
charge,  but  here  they  stood  and  fought  like  Spartans  till  the 
bayonets  of  the  opposing  columns  were  crossed,  and  muskets 
clubbed,  and  guns  wrenched  from  each  other's  hands ;  and  even 
then  they  yielded  with  much  reluctance.  The  artillery  section 
of  Captain  Drum,  and  the  heavy  battering  pieces  of  Captain 
Huger,  immediately  advanced  and  took  possession  of  the  ene 
my's  deserted  position,  and  opened  a  most  destructive  fire,  both 
from  their  own  batteries  and  the  captured  pieces,  upon  the  dis 
organized  and  broken  columns  of  the  retreating  foe,  and  which 
was  kept  up  with  great  spirit  and  effect,  until  the  scattered 
forces  were  beyond  their  reach.  The  conflict  about  the  guns 
was  obstinate  and  sanguinary  in  the  extreme ;  the  field  for  seme 
distance  round  being  literally  covered  with  the  killed  and 
wounded,  while  the  earth  was  slippery  with  human  gore.  But 
while  the  centre  and  right  were  victorious,  carrying  every  thing 
before  them,  the  left  was  by  no  means  acting  the  part  of  idle 


IN  MEXICO,  161 

spectators ;  it  was  here  the  brave  Mclntosh  fought  at  the  head 
of  his  gallant  brigade,  which  he  had  led  off  most  beautifully  in 
the  assault  on  the  enemy's  extreme  right.  The  oblique  move 
ment  of  this  brigade  led  it  across  the  line  in  front  of  Duncan's 
battery,  and  which  completely  masked  it  for  a  moment,  and 
caused  it  to  discontinue  its  fire;  but  still  the  advancing  columns 
moved  on  steadily  and  firmly  to  the  assault  of  the  strong  works 
of  Casa  Mata,  which  heretofore  had  been  supposed  to  be  only 
an  ordinary  field  work  or  entrenchment,  but  on  reaching  it,  it 
proved  to  be  a  strong  stone  citadel,  surrounded  with  bastioned 
entrenchments  and  impassable  ditches ;  an  old  Spanish  work 
recently  repaired.  As  soon  as  the  assaulting  forces  had  arrived 
within  easy  musket  range,  the  enemy  opened  a  most  deadly  and 
destructive  fire  upon  them,  which  was  continued  until  the  ad 
vancing  columns  reached  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  walls;  and 
though  the  wasting  fire  ot  the  enemy  swept  the  lines  from  right 
to  left,  cutting  down  scores  at  every  discharge,  yet  they  faltered 
not  for  a  moment,  but  promptly  closing  up  the  gaps  in  their 
fast  thinning  ranks,  they  continued  to  move  steadily  and  rapidly 
forward,  though  every  step  brought  them  nearer,  and  in  more 
deadly  and  direct  range  of  the  musketry  which  was  making 
such  sad  havoc  among  them.  By  the  time  they  reached  the 
walls,  almost  one  half  of  the  entire  command  had  fallen,  either 
killed  or  wounded,  including  the  three  senior  officers,  Colonel 
Mclntosh,  Colonel  Scott,  and  Major  Waite,  the  second  of 
whom  was  killed  upon  the  spot,  and  the  other  two  desperately 
wounded.  And  still  the  wasting  effects  of  the  galling  and  de 
structive  fire  from  the  Citadel  and  surrounding  works  continued 
with  such  unabated  fury  that  every  inch  of  ground  seemed  to 
be  swept  by  a  perfect  hail-storm  of  bullets,  and  the  only  wonder 
seemed  to  be  that  a  single  man  escaped.  This  murderous  fire, 
which  no  human  force  could  withstand,  threw  our  troops  into  a 
momentary  disorder;  and  at  this  terribfe  crisis,  big  with  the 
events  of  victory  cr  defeat,  the  command  was  seen  to  bend 
backwards  and  waver  for  a  moment,  and  finally  fell  back  upon 
Duncan's  battery,  where  it  instantly  rallied  in  gallant  style,  and 
gatharing  up  its  energies  only  to  make  a  more  deadly  and  des 
perate  onset  when  the  charge  should  again  be  sounded.  As 
the  shattered  remnant  of  this  brigade,  almost  without  officers, 
and  fearfully  reduced  in  rank  and  file,  was  moving  on  a  second 
time  to  the  assault,  it  was  discovered  that  our  left  flank  was 
threatened  by  a  large  cavalry  and  infantry  force  which  was  seen 
to  be  rapidly  approaching  our  lines  in  that  direction.  Quick  as 
thought,  Duncan's  battery  was  in  motion,  and  supported  by 
Andrew's  voltigeurs,  and  Cadwalader's  brigade,  was  soon 


thundering  across  the  field  in  the  direction  of  the  threatened 
point,  in  order,  to  check,  if  possible,  the  movement  against  our 
flank,  and  at  the  same  time  prevent  the  advancing  troops  from 
reinforcing  the  enemy's  right,  which  it  was  evidently  their  in 
tention  to  do,  after  they  had  succeeded  in  turning  our  left.  The 
enemy's  cavalry  came  dashing  up  at  a  rapid  rate  and  in  fine 
style,  with  glittering  helmets  and  flashing  blades,  to  within 
direct  canister  range  of  Duncan's  guns,  when  a  sudden  thunder 
clap  shook  the  field,  and  a  sheet  of  fire  from  his  whole  battery 
revealed  to  them  the  danger  of  their  position,  and  after  empty 
ing  about  fifty  saddles,  and  scattering  the  field  with  their  dead 
and  wounded,  sent  them  scampering  away  much  faster  than 
they  came.  The  spectacle  which  they  presented  when  advanc 
ing  at  an  easy  canter,  was  grand  and  imposing;  their  lines 
were  well  dressed  upon  their  guides,  while  the  glittering  tinsel 
ol  their  dashy  and  gaudy  uniforms,  and  their  spirited  and  gaily 
caparisoned  chargers  all  curveting  and  champing  the  bit,  and 
moving  with  such  easy  and  uniform  pace,  gave  them  at  once  a 
proud  and  martial  bearing  which  could  not  but  strike  the  eye 
of  every  beholder. 

This  movement,  terminating  successfully,  put  matters  to 
rights  on  the  left,  and  made  every  thing  sure  in  that  quarter ; 
during  which  time  Major  Sumner's  command,  by  a  change  of 
direction,  had  moved  towards  the  front,  the  whole  manoeuvre 
being  gone  through  with  almost  instantly,  and  in  a  gallant  and 
skillful  manner,  although  at  the  same  time  they  were  within 
direct  range  of,  and  under  a  hot  and  galling  fire  from,  the  strong 
works  of  Casa  Mata.  This  splendid  and  well-timed  move 
ment  enabled  his  command  to  cross  the  ravine  which  lay  con 
siderably  on  the  left  of  Duncan's  battery,  which  position  it 
gallantly  maintained  throughout  the  fight,  rendering  most  valu 
able  and  effective  service  until  the  end  of  the  action.  The 
very  moment  the  routed  cavalry  force  was  beyond  the  reach  of 
Duncan's  guns,  our  infantry  retired  from  before  the  thick  stone 
walls  of  Casa  Mata,  in  order  to  give  him  a  chance  to  play  upon 
them  with  his  artillery,  which  opportunity  he  immediately  im 
proved,  and  opened  with  much  spirit  and  effect,  which  he  kept 
up  until  he  had  completely  driven  the  enemy  from  his  strong 
holds,  and  made  himself  master  of  his  works  and  artillery, 
turning  the  captured  pieces  against  the  mingled  and  retreating 
masses,  and  continu'ng  to  play  upon  them  with  most  appalling 
effect  until  they  had  fled  beyond  his  reach. 

The  enemy  was  now  driven  in  wild  dismay  and  great  con 
fusion  from  every  point  of  his  strong  and  well-defended  lines, 
leaving  all  his  works  and  artillery  in  full  and  complete  posses- 


IN  MEXICO.  168 

ssion  of  the  American  forces,  which  they  immediately  entered 
and  occupied,  at  the  same  time  planting  their  different  standards 
upon  the  deserted  walls,  and  flinging  their  starry  folds  to  the 
breeze,  rent  the  air  with  long  and  loud  shouts  of  victory. 

Thus  ended  the  brief  but  terrible  and  sanguinary  battle  of 
Molino  del  Rey,  which  cost  the  American  army  more  dearly 
than  any  other  single  battle  on  that  line ;  the  number  of  killed 
and  wounded,  considering  the  length  of  time  the  two  forces 
were  engaged,  was  positively  astounding.  It  was  remarked 
by  a  distinguished  general  officer,  on  hearing  the  results  of  the 
battle,  thai  many  more  such  victories  would  ruin  our  army. 
Both  our  officers  and  men  certainly  deserve  the  highest  praise 
and  commendation  for  their  noble  and  gallant  conduct  upon  the 
field,  fighting  as  they  did  against  such  fearful  odds  who  possessed 
the  advantages  of  chosen  positions  behind  thick  stone  walls, 
which  completely  protected  them  from  the  fire  of  our  small 
arms,  while  at  the  same  time  they  were  enabled  to  play  upon 
our  advancing  lines  with  the  most  fatal  precision  and  deadly 
effect.  By  skillful  management  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  in 
masking  their  batteries,  and  otherwise  concealing  the  strength 
of  their  works,  they  were  enabled  in  some  degree  to  disappoint 
the  calculations  of  the  reconnoitering  party  in  leading  them  to 
suppose  that  the  works  were  not  as  strong,  or  as  well  defended, 
as  they  really  were.  But  this  deception  eventually  availed 
them  out  very  little,  after  the  conflict  had  commenced,  and  out 
lines  became  engaged;  for  had  their  position  been  even  more 
formidable  than  it  was,  it  must  eventually  have  fallen  as  it  did, 
before  the  intrepid  courage  and  unyielding  perseverance  of  our 
impetuous  troops,  who  knew  not  how  to  yield,  and  would  rather 
die  than  retreat.  Worth  went  upon  the  field  that  morning  with 
little  more  than  3000  men,  all  flushed  with  recent  victory,  and 
ready  with  bold  hearts  and  strong  arms  tor  the  bold  and  daring 
work  that  lay  before  them ;  near  800  of  whom  was  struck  down 
upon  the  field,  either  killed  or  wounded,  being  about  one-fourth 
of  his  whole  effective  force,  among  whom  were  many  able  and 
distinguished  officers,  who  were  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the 
service.  The  action  commenced  at  sun  rise  and  lasted  two 
hours,  during  which  time  almost  every  arm  of  the  service  on 
both  sides  was  incessantly  engaged,  with  scarcely  a  moment's 
intermission.  From  the  moment  that  the  first  flash  of  Huger's 
signal  guns  was  seen  through  the  gray  mist  of  the  morning,  till 
the  last  retreating  foe  that  fled  from  Casa  Mata  was  beyond  the 
reach  of  Duncan's  battery,  not  a  man  of  the  whole  command 
was  idle;  all  fighting  desperately,  as  if  victory  or  death  was  the 
inevitable  result. 


164  SCOTT'S   CAMPAIGN 

According  to  the  directions  of  General  Scott,  that  portion  of 
the  enemy's  works  known  as  the  Casa  Mata  was  immediately 
blown  up,  together  with  the  captured  ammunition  which  could 
not  be  made  useful ;  and  the  cannon  moulds  and  machinery 
found  at  El  Molino  del  Rey  were  also  destroyed  in  obedience  to 
the  same  order,  after  which  the  whole  command  returned  to 
their  former  quarters  at  Tacubaya;  thus  acting  out  to  the  very 
letter  the  strict  and  reiterated  orders  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief. 

The  number  of  prisoners  taken  in  the  fight  is  set  down  at 
800,  including  fifty-two  commissioned  officers.  The  total  loss 
of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  ascertained 
to  be  about  3,000,  being  equal  to  the  whole  number  of  Ameri 
cans  engaged  in  the  action.  It  was  known  from  the  reports  of 
prisoners  taken  on  the  field,  and  other  corroborating  evidence 
from  reliable  sources,  that  the  number  of  the  enemy's  forces 
which  were  engaged  with  Worth's  command  that  day,  exceed 
ed  14,000  effective  men,  all  under  the  immediate  command 
of  General  Santa  Anna  in  person.  Estimating  the  relative 
strength  of  the  two  antagonist  forces,  no  one  will  wonder  at 
our  extraordinary  loss,  especially  when  he  comes  to  consider 
that  3,000  men,  in  an  open  field,  fought  and  conquered  14,000 
in  chosen  positions  and  behind  the  strongest  kind  of  fortifica 
tions. 

General  Worth,  in  his  official  report,  says : — "My  command, 
reinforced  as  before,  stated,  only  reached  three  thousand  one 
hundred  men  of  all  arms.  The  contest  continued  for  two  hours, 
and  its  severity  is  painfully  attested  by  our  heavy  loss  of  offi 
cers,  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  including  in  the 
first  two  classes  some  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  service. 
It  will  be  seen  that  subordinate  commanders  speak  in  the  warm 
est  terms  of  the  conduct  of  their  officers  and  men,  to  which  I 
beg  leave  to  add  my  cordial  testimony.  There  could  be  no 
higher  exhibition  of  courage,  constancy,  and  devotion  to  duty 
and  to  country.  These  operations  occurring  under  the  obser 
vation  of  the  General-in-Chief,  gives  assurance  that  justice 
will  be  done  to  the  noble  officers  and  soldiers  whose  valor 
achieved  this  glorious,  but  dear-bought  victory.  Commending 
the  gallant  dead,  the  wounded,  and  the  few  unscathed,  to  the 
respectful  memory  of  their  countrymen,  and  the  rewards  due  to 
valor  and  conduct,  I  present  the  names  of  those  especially  no 
ticed  by  subordinate  commanders,  uniting  in  all  they  have  said, 
and  extending  the  same  testimony  to  those  not  named." 

This  battle  was  fought  in  full  view  of  the  city,  the  Castle  of 
Chapultepec,  Tacubaya,  and  the  surround  ing  towns  and  villages, 


IN  MEXICO.  165 

and  was,  no  doubt,  regarded  by  the  crowding  and  anxious 
thousands  of  the  enemy  that  witnessed  the  thrilling  scene  from 
the  neighboring  heights,  as  but  a  fearful  earnest  of  what  was 
destined  to  befall  all  their  other  works  in  turn,  and  which  would 
carry  the  victorious  army  of  the  North  to  the  very  gates  of  the 
city.  They  now  deemed  it  almost  certain  that  the,  heretofore, 
unpolluted  streets  of  the  Capital  must  shortly  be  trod  by  the  rest 
less  and  enterprising  Anglo-Saxon,  and  that  the  rich  drapery  of 
their  beautiful  tri-colored  flag,  which  is  at  once  the  pride  and 
glory  of  their  republic,  must  soon  be  furled  in  ignominious  sub 
mission,  to  give  place  to  the  hated,  but  victorious  stars  and 
stripes.  These,  I  say,  might  have  been  the  fears  and  forebod 
ings  of  those  who  witnessed  the  fall  of  Molino  del  Rey. 

On  reducing  the  works  of  the  King's  mill,  they  were  found  to 
contain  quite  an  extensive  foundry,  with  all  the  machinery  and 
apparatus  necessary  for  moulding  cannon  on  quite  a  magnifi 
cent  scale,  and  was  in  active  and  successful  operation  up  to  the 
time  of  its  reduction.  Large  numbers  of  bells  had  been 
brought  from  the  churches  in  the  city  for  the  purpose  of  supply 
ing  material  for  moulding,  and  large  numbers  of  cannon  were 
being  finished  and  mounted  with  all  possible  despatch.  Santa 
Anna  had  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  loose  a  large  portion  of  his 
artillery  in  the  recent  battles,  and  he  was  bending  all  his  ener 
gies  towards  supplying  the  deficiency  by  encouraging  domestic 
manufacture.  This  fact  alone  will  serve  to  show  the  great  ex 
tremity  to  which  the  Mexican  President  was  driven,  for  all 
church  property  is  considered  sacred,  and  was  never  before 
known  to  be  appropriated  to  civil  purposes,  not  even  in  cases  of 
the  most  extreme  necessity.  A  move  was  once  made  by  one  of 
the  Presidents  of  Mexico  to  have  a  portion  of  the  church  pro 
perty  appropriated  towards  the  liquidation  of  the  public  debt, 
but  it  was  so  strongly  opposed  by  the  priests  and  their  favor 
ites,  that  it  was  finally  abandoned. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  works  of  Molino  del  Rey  having  been  reduced  and  de 
stroyed,  the  next  step  in  the  regular  course  of  things  was  to 
carry  the  castle  of  Chapultepec,  which  was  now  the  only  for 
midable  position  that  lay  between  our  army  and  the  gates  of 
the  city.  This  work  is  situated  upon  the  summit  of  an  isolated 
hill  or  mound  of  some  considerable  elevation,  and  was  consi 
dered  one  of  the  strongest  and  best  fortified  positions  about  the 


166  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

city,  and  contained  some  of  their  heaviest  pieces  of  artillery, 
manned  by  their  most  experienced  and  skillful  Engineers. 
This  is  supposed  to  be  the  former  site  of  Montezuma's  palace, 
and  is  a  most  beautiful  and  commanding  situation,  completely 
overlooking  the  whole  city,  which  seems  to  rest  in  quiet  repose 
and  princely  grandeur,  upon  the  green  bosom  of  the  wide  and 
placid  valley  beneath.  It  also  contains  a  military  college, 
where  boys  and  young  men  are  trained  and  educated  for  the 
army ;  and  during  the  investment  of  their  Alma  Mater  on  the 
12th  and  13th  by  the  American  army,  although  mere  boys, 
yet  they  laid  aside  their  books  and  studies,  and  stood  by  and 
manned  the  guns,  fighting  bravely  to  the  last  like  veteran  he 
roes,  showing  that  they  knew  a  little  about  the  practice  as  well 
as  the  theory  of  war. 

This  Castle  lay  within  easy  cannon  range  of  the  village  of 
Tacubaya,  which  was  then  occupied  as  our  general  head 
quarters,  and  until  it  was  carried  it  was  impossible  for  our  arrny 
to  approach  the  city  towards  its  western  gates,  without  taking 
a  very  long  and  circuitous  route,  and  which  might  eventually 
have  proved  rather  a  hazardous  and  uncertain  experiment. 
Accordingly,  immediate  preparations  were  entered  into  for  the 
battering  and  bombardment,  and  final  reduction  of  the  Castle, 
with  all  its  works  and  armaments,  which  preparations  were 
completed  by  the  evening  of  the  llth,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  12th  the  cannonade  and  bombardment  were  opened  by 
Captain  Huger,  with  much  spirit  and  effect.  During  the  night 
of  the  llth,  several  heavy  batteries  were  erected  within  direct 
range  of  the  enemy's  main  works.  Battery  No.  1  was  esta 
blished  on  the  right  of  our  lines,  which  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Drum,  of  the  fourth  artillery ;  and  also  Battery  No.  2, 
under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Hagner,  of  the  ordnance  de 
partment,  both  of  which  were  supported  by  Quitman's  division. 
This  brave  and  veteran  commander  had  been  deprived,  by  cir 
cumstances  beyond  his  control,  of  the  pleasure  of  participating 
in  the  dangers  and  glories  of  the  battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Con- 
treras  and  Churubusco,  but  now  fortune  had  assigned  him  "a 
place  in  the  picture,"  and  how  he  most  gallantly  made  amends 
for  lost  time  at  Chapultepec  and  the  Garita  de  Belen,  will 
abundantly  appear  in  the  sequel.  Batteries  No.  3  and  4  were 
established  on  the  left  of  our  lines,  and  was  supported  by  Pil 
low's  division;  the  former  of  which  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Brooks  and  Lieutenant  Anderson,  of  the  3d  artillery,  while  tho 
latter  was  under  the  orders  of  Lieutenant  Stone,  of  the  ord 
nance  department;  the  position  of  these  batteries  was  marked 
out  by  Captain  Huger,  and  Captain  Lee  of  the  Engineers,  and 


IN  MEXICO.  167 

constructed  by  them,  being  assisted  by  several  officers  of  the 
Engineer  and  Artillery  corps.  It  was  anticipated,  that  in  order 
to  effect  a  serious  and  manifest  impression  upon  the  enemy's 
works,  it  might  be  found  necessary  to  continue  the  play  of  our 
batteries  throughout  the  second  day :  and  as  the  captures  inci 
dent  upon  our  recent  victories  had  greatly  augmented  our  artil 
lery  and  siege  train,  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  cripple  the  works 
about  the  castle  most  effectually  with  shot  and  shells  before  at 
tempting  the  assault.  As  has  been  before  remarked,  a  can 
nonade  and  bombardment  from  our  whole  line  of  batteries,  un 
der  the  direction  of  Captain  Huger,  was  opened  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  12th,  and  continued  without  intermission  through 
out  the  day,  and  when  night  set  in,  and  darkness  shut  out  the 
enemy's  lines  from  view,  it  was  evident  to  all  that  the  work  of 
our  batteries  had  not  been  in  vain ;  but  a  decided  and  favorable 
impression  was  manifest  upon  the  immediate  Castle  and  its  out- 
Avorks.  Large  bodies  of  Mexican  infantry  had  been  observed 
throughout  the  day,  assembled  without  the  walls,  and  on  the 
side  towards  the  city,  in  order  to  escape  the  effects  of  our  shot, 
and  to  be  near  at  hand  as  soon  as  the  cannonade  should  cease, 
in  order  to  reinforce  the  garrison  in  case  of  an  assault.  This 
large  body  of  troops  held  their  position  beyond  the  reach  of 
immediate  danger  during  the  wiiole  day,  and  were  discovered 
to  be  occupying  the  same  outside  ground  on  the  next  moming, 
thus  reducing  the  efficient  portion  of  the  garrison  to  a  number 
barely  sufficient  to  manage  the  guns. 

Generals  Pillow  and  Quitman  had  held  their  respective  divi 
sions  in  position  since  the  evening  of  the  llth,  where  they  had 
then  been  placed  to  support  the  batteries,  and  at  the  same  time 
holding  themselves  in  readiness  at  a  moment's  warning  to  com 
mence  the  assault,  whenever  such  a  movement  should  be  or 
dered  by  the  General-in-Chief.  To  General  Worth  was  as 
signed  the  duty  of  holding  his  division  as  a  reserve  corps,  in 
the  direction  of,  and  near  to,  El  Molino  del  Rey,  the  theatre  of 
his  recent  brilliant  victory,  with  orders  to  support  the  movements 
of  Pillow,  if  deemed  necessary  by  the  latter  officer.  Brigadier 
General  P.  F.  Smith,  with  his  brigade  of  Twiggs'  division,  had 
just  arrived  from  the  neighboring  village  of  Piedad,  and  was 
ordered  to  take  a  convenient  position  for  the  purpose  of  support 
ing  General  Quitman,  should  circumstances  require  it.  In 
order  to  mislead  the  garrison  stationed  within  the  city  of  Mexico, 
and  divert  their  attention  as  much  as  possible  from  the  real  in 
tended  point  of  attack,  General  Twiggs,  with  his  division,  rein 
forced  by  Riley's  brigade,  and  Taylor's  and  Steptoe's  batteries, 
was  ordered  to  hold  a  position,  and  by  feints  and  mock  attacks, 


168  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

threaten  the  enemy  before  the  south  gates  of  the  city,  thereby 
holding  at  that  point  a  large  portion  of  the  Mexican  troops  on 
the  defensive ;  and  while  active  operations  were  going  on  be 
fore  the  walls  of  Chapultepec,  Tvviggs'  guns  were  still  dis 
tinctly  heard  in  the  distance  holding  the  enemy  at  bay.  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  men  volunteered  their  services 
from  Worth's  division,  and  offered  to  act  as  a  storming  party, 
which  was  considered,  under  the  circumstances,  little  better 
than  a  forlorn  hope.  The  distinguished  honor  of  the  command 
of  this  party  was  conferred  on  Captain  M'Kenzie,  of  the  2d 
artillery,  and  subsequent  events  proved  that  it  could  not  have 
been  intrusted  to  a  braver  or  more  skillful  officer.  Twiggs' 
division,  not  wishing  to  be  outdone  in  deeds  of  noble  and  self- 
sacrificing  gallantry,  offered  a  similar  party  of  the  same  num 
ber  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  General  Quitman,  and  com 
manded  by  Captain  Casey.  A  large  portion  of  both  those  par 
ties  were  composed  of  men  of  tried  and  known  courage,  whose 
noble  daring  and  gallant  behavior  had  been  manifested  on  more 
than  one  bloody  and  well-fought  field.  Each  of  these  little 
columns  was  furnished  with  scaling  ladders,  which  they  carried 
in  their  hands  during  the  advance,  and  by  the  skillful  use  and 
assistance  of  which,  they  might  be  enabled,  almost  instantly, 
to  leap  the  walls  in  a  body  and  pass  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
enemy's  works.  The  signal  which  the  General-in-Chief  had 
appointed  for  the  general  attack  and  final  assault,  was  the  mo 
mentary  cessation  of  the  firing  on  the  part  of  all  our  batteries, 
which  signal  was  understood  and  acted  upon  at  the  same  instant 
by  every  division,  brigade,  and  regiment,  which  was  then  in 
position  in  the  valley  below,  and  facing  the  different  sides  of 
the  hill.  It  was  now  thought  evident,  from  the  number  and 
weight  of  the  shot  and  shells  that  had  been  thrown,  and  from 
the  general  appearance  of  the  enemy's  works,  that  sufficient 
breaches  had  been  effected  to  justify  our  troops  in  attempting  to 
finish  the  conflict  by  assault.  Consequently,  about  8  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  General  Scott  sent  one  of  his  staff 
with  instructions  to  apprise  Generals  Pillow  and  Quitman  that 
the  preconcerted  signal  would  be  given  in  a  very  few  moments 
from  that  time.  The  lines  were  instantly  placed  in  order  of 
batlle,  and  both  columns  moved  off  in  gallant  style,  advanc 
ing  with  that  alacrity  and  promptness  which  gave  abundant 
evidence  of  ultimate  success.  The  different  batteries  whose 
fire  had  been  silenced  as  the  signal  of  attack  but  a  few  mo- 
ments  before,  now  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of 
throwing  shot  and  shells  over  the  heads  of  the  advancing  col 
umns,  and  planting  them  with  great  precision  and  effect  within 


IN  MEXICO.  169 

the  works  of  the  enemy,  at  the  same  time  preventing  large 
bodies  of  troops  without  the  works  from  reinforcing  those  within, 
which  was  frequently  attempted  by  those  who  had  passed  to 
the  outside  of  the  walls  of  the  castle  in  order  to  escape  the 
effects  of  our  artillery.  The  direction  marked  out  for  General 
Pillow's  division,  led  him  to  approach  the  summit  on  the  west 
side  of  the  hill,  in  doing  which  he  had  to  pass  through  a  beau 
tiful  and  open  grove,  and  behind  every  bush  and  rock  of  which 
the  enemy  had  concealed  his  sharp  shooters,  with  a  view  to 
harrass  and  impede  our  approach  as  much  as  possible,  and  from 
which  the  advancing  lines  suffered  considerably.  It  was  here, 
just  as  the  division  was  emerging  from  the  grove  into  fair  and 
open  ground,  and  just  at  the  foot  of  a  steep  and  rocky  ascent, 
that  General  Pillow  was  struck  down  by  a  grape  shot,  inflicting 
a  very  severe  and  painful  wound  in  his  leg.  He  was  then,  at 
his  own  request,  carried  in  a  blanket  at  the  head  of  his  division 
up  the  hill,  and  was  thereby  enabled  to  reach  the  work  in  time 
to  witness  the  surrender.  General  Pillow  being  wounded,  and 
Brigadier  General  Pierce,  the  next  in  command,  being  sick,  the 
command  devolved  on  Brigadier  General  Cadwalader,  who 
gallantly  led  the  division  on  to  the  assault.  Just  before  Pillow 
was  wounded,  he  had  called  upon  General  Worth  for  a  rein 
forcement,  who  promptly  responded  to  the  call,  and  forthwith 
sent  him  Clark's  brigade,  which  reached  him  just  before  he 
fell,  and  was  advancing  inline  with  his  columns.  A  steep  and 
broken  ascent  of  some  distance  in  extent  lay  directly  in  the  path 
of  this  division,  and  which  it  was  compelled  to  pass  before 
reaching  the  outer  walls  of  the  Castle  upon  the  summit;  but 
neither  rocks  nor  chasms,  nor  showers  of  whistling  bullets 
could  for  a  moment  impede  the  progress  of  our  brave  and  im 
petuous  troops.  From  the  rough  and  uneven  nature  of  the 
ground,  and  the  steepness  of  the  ascent,  the  advance  of  our 
lines  was  necessarily  more  slow  than  could  have  been  wished; 
but  though  impeded  ^or  a  moment,  yet  their  steady  and  unfalter. 
ing  course  was  onward  and  upward,  leaping  from  rock  to  rock, 
they  continued  to  rush  on  with  impetuous  ardor  and  increased 
animation,  in  the  very  face  of  a  perfect  tempest  of  grape,  can 
ister  and  musket  bails,  which  swept  the  ranks  at  every  step. 

The  Mexicans  saw  that  a  crisis  had  arrived,  and  they  were 
letting  loose  their  pent  up  fires,  and  hurling  their  hot  bolts  with 
a  herculean  effort,  which  told  the  important  results  that  were 
trembling  in  the  balance.  The  most  powerful  and  opulent  city 
upon  the  Western  Continent  was  that  day  put  upon  the  field  to 
be  battled  for;  the  guardian  angel  of  Mexico  was  hovering  in 
the  smoke  of  battle,  and  the  destini«s  of  an  ancient  and  mighty 


170  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

republic  were  now  staked  upon  the  issue  of  a  moment.  But 
the  men  who  fought  that  day  were  brave ;  might  I  not  say,  the 
bravest  of  the  brave !  and  were  led  on  by  officers  who  never 
knew  the  sense  of  fear,  and  whose  confidence  was  unbounded 
in  the  firmness  and  integrity  of  every  man  they  commanded. 
I  verily  believe  that  if  only  ten  men  had  reached  the  walls 
alive,  that  they  would  have  scaled  the  ramparts  and  died  fight 
ing  within  the  works. 

Midway  between  this  rocky  declivity  and  the  Castle  was 
erected  a  strong  redoubt,  which  yielded,  even  before  it  was 
reached,  to  superior  courage  and  resistless  valor;  and  the 
Anglo-Saxon  shout  of  defiance  that  followed  its  capture,  an 
nounced  to  those  within  the  Castle,  in  language  not  to  be  mis 
understood,  the  fate  that  awaited  and  soon  must  overtake  it. 
The  enemy  were  rapidly  and  steadily  driven  from  covert  to 
covert,  and,  shot  down  and  bayonetted  at  every  point;  and  the 
retreat' was  so  hasty  and  precipitate  from  the  outer  works  that 
not  a  moment  was  left  to  fire  a  single  mine,  without  the  proba 
bility  of  destroying  both  friends  and  foes  in  one  indiscriminate 
mass.  These  mines  had  been  prepared  with  great  labor  and 
care,  and  filled  with  barrels  of  powder,  and  trains  laid  so  that 
they  could  be  ignited  in  an  instant,  and  if  the  stratagem  had 
proved  successful,  it  must  have  resulted  in  the  total  destruction 
of  a  large  portion  of  the  advancing  forces.  But  the  onset  was 
so  fierce,  and  the  advance  so  rapid  and  overpowering,  that  the 
frightened  and  panic-struck  soldiery  scampered  off  in  such  a 
hurry,  and  were  so  extremely  anxious  to  save  their  bacon,  that 
they  either  forgot  their  duty,  or  were  so  hotly  pressed  that  they 
had  not  time  to  perform  it. 

During  all  this  time  the  assaulting  columns  were  rushing  on 
in  perfect  safety,  treading  with  impunity  over  those  slumbering 
volcanoes  of  death,  which  the  enemy  had  fondly  hoped  would 
be  the  grave  of  the  shattered  fragments  of  our  little  army. 
There  were  some  few  ot  the  Mexican  soldiers  more  hardy  and 
fearless  than  the  rest,  who,  at  a  distance,  attempted  to  apply  the 
matches  to  the  long  trains,  and  thus  accomplish  the  explosion, 
but  they  were  shot  down  by  our  troops  as  fast  as  they  attempted 
it,  until  the  project  was  finally  given  up  as  hopeless.  At 
length,  after  incredible  labor  and  fatigue,  and  quite  a  heavy 
loss  from  the  long  exposure  to  a  most  galling  and  well-directed 
fire,  which  blazed  incessantly  forth  from  the  enemy's  whole 
line  of  works,  our  weary  and  exhausted  troops  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  ditch  which  surrounds  the  main  wall  of  the  forti 
fication,  where  many  brave  men  fell  in  the  attempt  to  scale. 

There  was  quite  a  spirited  contest  among  the  advancing1 


IN  MEXICO.  171 

hosts,  each  one  contending  with  the  other  for  the  distinguished 
honor  of  being  first  over  the  walls  and  within  the  enemy's 
works ;  but  most  of  those  brave  and  daring  spirits  who  first 
mounted  the  walls  were  instantly  shot  down,  either  killed  or 
wounded.  The  storming  parties  were  there  to  a  man,  and  in 
front  of  the  foremost,  while  with  long  and  loud  shouts  their  lad 
ders  were  planted  quick  as  thought — a  lodgment  was  effected— 
the  walls  were  covered  in  an  instant — when  a  perfect  cataract 
of  men  and  arms  were  flowing  down  their  sides  in  an  angry  and 
resistless  tide,  sweeping  in  its  furious  current  the  disorganized 
and  scattered  ranks  of  the  bewildered  and  distracted  foe. 
Those  who  madly  attempted  any  further  resistance  after  the 
works  were  entered,  either  fell,  or  were  compelled  to  flee  before 
our  victorious  bayonets.  The  furious  and  impetuous  onset  of 
our  troops  instantly  overcame,  and  levelled  all  opposition,  while 
several  stands  of  our  regimental  colors  were  unfurled  and  flung 
to  the  breeze  from  the  upper  walls  of  the  Citadel,  amid  the 
enthusiastic  cheerings  of  the  whole  army,  which  made  the  very 
city  tremble,  and  sent  consternation  and  dismay  through  all  its 
crowded  streets.  But  \ve  must  not  by  any  means  infer  that 
Pillow's  command  did  all  the  hot  work  of  that  bloody  day;  it 
is  true  that  it  acted  the  part  assigned  it,  but  at  the  same  time  we 
must  not  forget  that  the  distinguished  Mississippian  was  doing 
his  work  in  the  same  gallant  and  efficient  style  on  the  south 
east  side  of  the  hill.  Quitman's  division,  supported  by  Gen 
erals  Shields  and  Smith,  with  their  respective  brigades,  was 
by  no  means  tardy  or  backward  in  the  performance  of  the  work 
assigned  it. 

General  Quitman,  with  his  command,  moved  on  in  gallant 
style  towards  the  south  east  side  of  the  Castle,  which  he  did 
while  laboring  under  great  disadvantages,  .his  course  leading 
ovo.r  a  causeway  obstructed  by  ditches  and  batteries,  and  de 
fended  by  a  large  body  of  troops  which  were  stationed  outside 
of  the  walls,  and  on  the  east  of  the  main  works  on  the  summit. 
The  approach  was  rendered  extremely  arduous,  difficult,  and 
dangerous,  by  the  intervention  of  almost  every  obstacle  which 
art  or  nature  could  throw  in  the  way,  while  almost  every  ad 
vantage  seemed  to  be  on  the  side  of  the  enemy.  But  all  those 
prominent  and  formidable  difficulties  were  met  and  overcome 
by  the  firmness  and  courage  of  the  assaulting  forces,  without 
any  shelter  to  protect  them  from  the  direct  fire  of  the  enemy  in 
front,  and  in  a  space  so  circumscribed  as  to  render  it  utterly 
impossible  to  manoeuvre  to  advantage. 

Smith,  with  his  brigade,  had  been  ordered  to  make  a  push 
towards  the  right,  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  a  firm  and  un- 


172  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

broken  (rout  to  the  enemy's  line  of  defence  on  the  outside  of  the 
works,  with  directions  at  the  same  time  to  move  against  and 
turn,  if  possible,  two  intervening  batteries,  which  lay  near  the 
foot  of  the  hill  of  Chapultepec.  This  bold  and  daring  move 
ment  was  also  intended  finally  to  support  and  protect  two  storm 
ing  parties  attached  to  Quitman's  command,  which  were  then 
upon  the  causeway,  and  ready  for  the  general  assault.  The 
first  of  these  parties  being  the  one  which  was  furnished  by 
Twiggs'  division,  was  originally  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Casey,  2d  infantry,  who  fell  severely  wounded  early  in  the 
action.  The  command  then  devolved  on  Captain  Paul,  7th 
infantry,  who  gallantly  led  on  his  eager  and  impatient  troops  in 
the  face  of  every  danger  until  the  walls  were  passed  and  the 
enemy  driven  from  every  point.  Major  Twiggs,  of  the  Marine 
Corps,  commanded  the  second  storming  party  until  he  fell  mor 
tally  wounded.  He  was  then  succeeded  in  command  by  Cap 
tain  Miller,  of  the  2d  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  who  nobly  acted 
the  counterpart  of  his  fallen  predecessor.  The  former  of  these 
assaulting  detachments,  under  Captain  Paul,  assisted  by  Cap 
tain  Roberts  and  Lieutenant  Stewart,  had  already  succeeded  in 
turning  two  batteries  which  lay  immediately  in  their  route, 
capturing  several  guns  and  taking  a  considerable  number  of 
prisoners,  besides  driving  back  the  supporting  columns  of  in 
fantry  who  were  posted  behind  them. 

The  New  York  and  South  Carolina  volunteers,  composing 
Shields'  brigade,  together  with  the  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
which  had  just  at  that  moment  come  up  in  gallant  style  on  the 
left  of  Quitman's  line,  had  succeeded,  after  much  labor  and  dif 
ficulty,  in  crossing  the  meadow  or  low  marshy  ground  in  front, 
under  a  sweeping  fire  from  the  lines  of  defence,  and  had  en 
tered  the  enclosure  within  the  outer  walls  of  the  castle  just  in 
time  to  join  and  participate  in  the  final  assault  of  Pillow  from 
the  western  side  of  the  work.  Inspired  by  the  presence  and 
example  of  the  gallant  and  distinguished  General  who  led  them 
to  victory  on  the  bloody  field  of  Churubusco,  the  Palmetto  and 
New  York  regiments  rushed  forward,  bearing  clown  and  over 
coming  every  obstacle  that  might  impede  their  onward  course, 
until  the  wall  was  reached  and  a  lodgment  effected. 

This  movement  on  the  part  of  Shields'  brigade  was  well  and 
promptly  supported  by  Colonel  Geary  with  the  2d  Pennsylvania 
regiment,  who  was  so  fortunate  as  to  enter  the  work  nearly  at 
the  same  moment  with  Shields,  and  under  a  most  spirited  and 
destructive  fire  from  the  enemy's  outposts.  These  dangerous 
and  daring  movements  were  not  accomplished  without  consider 
able  loss  on  our  part,  but  still  it  was  not  a  mad  and  useless  sa- 


1'N  MEXICO.  173 

crifice  of  life,  for  it  was  absolutely  necessary  that  our  lines 
should  have  been  exposed  in  the  manner  they  were,  in  order  to 
insure  a  successful  assault  upon  the  enemy's  strongholds  on 
that  side  of  the  hill.  In  leading  and  directing  the  advance  of 
his  brigade,  General  Shields  received  a  severe  and  painful 
wound  iti  the  arm,  and  though  faint  and  feeble  from  loss  of 
blood,  yet  he  could  not  be  induced  to  quit  his  command,  or 
leave  the  field  even  for  a  moment,  but  stanching  the  blood  with 
a  handkerchief,  he  still  presses  forward  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade,  while  his  men  were  falling  thick  around  him.  Capt. 
Van  O'Linda,  of  the  New  York  regiment,  a  brave  and  accom 
plished  officer,  was  struck  down,  mortally  wounded,  at  the  head 
of  his  command,  while  advancing  near  the  walls  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy's  hottest  fire ;  also  Lieutenant  Colonel  Baxter,  of 
the  same  regiment,  a  valuable  and  highly  esteemed  officer,  was 
killed  while  gallantly  leading  on  his  men,  and  but  a  moment 
before  the  works  were  entered.  Major  Gladden,  at  the  head  of 
his  gallant  Palmettoes,  still  towered  unscathed  before  his  impetu 
ous  command;  his  regiment  was  among  the  first  to  reach  the 
wall,  and  soon  he  succeeded  in  effecting  a  breach,  through 
which  they  entered,  and  were  soon  mingling  with  the  victorious 
columns  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  works.  The  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  regiments  passed  the  outer  wall  over  an 
abandoned  battery  on  their  left,  and  dashing  up  the  hill,  was 
among  the  first  in  the  final  assault.  The  marine  corps  had,  in 
obedience  to  orders,  taken  an  advantageous  position,  by  which 
they  were  enabled  to  render  the  most  prompt  and  efficient  sup 
port  to  the  storming  parties  attached  to  Quitman's  command. 
Matters  having  thus  reached  a  crisis  which  was  deemed  favor 
able  for  the  united  and  spirited  advance  of  the  whole  command, 
General  Quitman  ordered  his  forces  to  commence  the  final 
assault  from  all  points  of  his  lines  at  the  same  instant. 

The  storming  parties  commenced  the  dangerous  task,  and 
moved  off  in  gallant  style,  and  in  double  quick  time,  armed 
with  scaling  ladders,  pick-axes,  and  crow  bars,  and  led  by  offi 
cers  of  steady  nerves  and  tried  courage,  who  had  volunteered 
their  services  for  this  daring  and  desperate  adventure,  for  they 
were  all  looked  upon  as  a  forlorn  hope  who  had  consented  to 
sacrifice  their  lives  at  the  shrine  of  their  country's  honor,  and 
from  which  dangerous  service  but  few  would  escape  to  tell  the 
tale  of  their  hazardous  enterprize.  The  very  earth  shook  be 
neath  the  thundering  tread  of  the  assaulting  columns,  as  with 
the  wild  fury  of  the  whirlwind's  blast  they  swept  across  the 
plain  and  struggled  side  by  side  up  the  steep  ascent.  The 
Mexicans  stood  by  their  guns  and  fought  from  behind  the  walls 
S* 


174  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

with  a  degree  of  firmness  and  courage  which  excited  the  admi 
ration  of  all;  for  a  few  moments  the  contest  about  the  batteries 
was  fierce  and  desperate  beyond  description;  swords  and  bay 
onets  were  crossed,  and  muskets  clubbed,  by  those  who  fought 
over  heaps  of  the  dead  and  wounded,  while  their  faces  weir 
blackened  and  begrimed  with  powder,  and  their  uniforms  spat 
tered  with  blood.  The  summit  of  the  hill,  like  Sinai  of  old, 
was  completely  wrapped  in  clouds  of  fire  and  smoke,  and  as 
our  troops  were  advancing  on  all  sides,  they  appeared  to  the 
beholder  like  an  army  of  madmen  rushing  into  the  heaving 
crater  of  some  blazing  volcano. 

But  the  final  contest  was  short ;  the  Mexicans  fought  well, 
as  our  loss  will  fully  demonstrate ;  but  they  were  fighting  an  in 
vincible  foe,  and  were  therefore  finally  compelled  to  give  way 
before  superior  skill  and  courage ;  for  what  could  withstand  the 
furious  charge  of  seven  thousand  bayonets  wielded  by  Anglo- 
Saxon  hands,  and  sustained  by  a  species  of  daring,  reckless 
bravery  which  knows  nothing  in  battle  but  victory  or  death? 
The  enemy  now  broke  and  fled  from  every  point,  leaving  their 
works  completely  in  our  possession,  while  the  ascent  and  en 
trance  on  Quitman's  side  of  the  castle  was  opened  to  the  unin 
terrupted  advance  and  easy  conquest  of  our  troops.  About  600 
prisoners  were  taken  at  this  point,  among  whom  were  100 
officers,  including  one  General  and  ten  Colonels,  besides  1000 
muskets  and  seven  pieces  of  heavy  artillery.  But  the  rejoic 
ings  ol  victory  \vere  shadowed  in  gloom,  while  the  whole  army 
mourned  the  loss  of  the  gallant  dead ;  among  whom  was  that 
promising  young  officer,  Lieutenant  J.  Willis  Canty,  of  the 
Palmetto  regiment,  than  whom  a  braver  man  or  a  higher  toned 
gentleman  never  went  forth  in  the  service  of  his  country;  he 
fell  early  in  the  action,  and  in  the  morning  of  life ;  he  was  one 
of  those  brave  and  patriotic  spirits  who  left  the  endearments  of 
home,  and  the  ties  of  kindred,  to  battle  for  the  honor  of  his 
country's  flag  upon  a  foreign  soil ;  but  he  sleeps  not  alone,  s-ir 
hundred  of  his  own  regiment  rest  in  peace  beneath  the  same 
sod,  while  their  country  weeps  for  the  loss  of  her  richest  jewels. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  official  report  of  Gen 
eral  Quitman: — "Simultaneously  with  these  movements  on  our 
right,  the  volunteer  regiment,  with  equal  alacrity  and  intrepidi 
ty,  animated  by  a  generous  emulation,  commenced  the  ascent 
of  the  hill  on  the  south  side.  Surmounting  every  obstacle,  and 
fighting  their  way,  they  fell  in  and  mingled  with  their  brave 
brethren  in  arms  who  formed  the  advance  of  Major  General 
Pillow's  column.  Side  by  side,  amid  the  storm  of  battle,  the 
rival  colors  of  the  two  commands  struggled  up  the  steep  asoont, 


IN  MEXICO.  175 

entered  the  fortress,  and  reached  the  buildings  used  as  a  Mili 
tary  College,  which  crowned  its  summit.  Here  was  a  short 
pause ;  but  soon  the  flag  of  Mexico  was  lowered,  and  the  stars 
and  stripes  of  our  country  floated  from  the  heights  of  Chapulte- 
pec,  high  above  the  heads  of  the  brave  men  who  had  planted 
them  there.  The  gallant  New  York  regiment  claims  for  their 
standard  the  honor  of  being  first  waved  from  the  battlements  of 
Chapultepec.  The  veteran  Mexican  General,  Bravo,  with  a 
number  of  officers  and  men,  were  taken  prisoners  in  the  castle. 
They  fell  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  Charles  Brower,  of  the 
New  York  regiment,  who  reported  them  to  me.  The  loss  of 
the  enemy  was  severe,  especially  on  the  eastern  side  adjoining 
the  batteries  taken.  It  should  also  be  mentioned,  that  at  the 
assault  upon  the  works,  Lieutenant  Frederick  Steele,  2d  In 
fantry,  with  a  portion  of  the  storming  party,  advanced  in  front 
of  the  batteries  to  the  left,  there  scaled  the  outer  wall  through 
a  breach  near  the  top,  made  by  a  cannon  shot,  ascended  the  hill 
directly  in  front,  and  was  among  the  first  upon  the  battlements. 
The  young  and  promising  Lieutenant  Levi  Gantt,  7th  Infantry, 
was  of  this  party.  He  had  actively  participated  in  almost 
every  battle  since  the  opening  of  the  war,  but  was  destined 
here  to  find  a  soldier's  grave.  After  giving  the  necessary  di 
rections  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  prisoners  taken  by  my  com 
mand,  and  ordering  the  several  corps  to  form  near  the  aquaduct 
I  hastily  ascended  the  hill  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the 
positions  of  the  enemy  in  advance  towards  the  city.  1  there 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Major  General  Pillow,  who,  al 
though  seriously  wounded,  had  been  carried  to  the  heights  to 
enjoy  the  triumph  in  which  he  and  his  brave  troops  had  so 
largely  shared." 

Lieutenant  Mayne  Reid,  (the  poet  warrior,)  of  the  New  York 
volunteers,  particularly  distinguished  himself  in  leading  his 
own  company,  together  with  one  of  the  Marines,  quite  in  ad 
vance  of  his  own  regiment,  and  reaching  the  walls  side  by 
side  with  the  storming  party,  and  was  among  the  first  within 
the  works  upon  the  summit.  Captain  Bernard,  of  the  Volti- 
geurs,  was  the  first  to  plant  the  standard  of  his  regiment  upon 
the  walls  of  the  castle,  while  Captain  Biddle,  of  the  same  regi 
ment  was  among  the  first  in  the  assault.  Lieutenant  Armstead, 
Gth  Infantry,  was  the  first  to  leap  the  ditch  and  plant  a  scaling 
ladder.  That  noble  New  Englander,  Colonel  Ransom,  fell 
mortally  wounded,  while  bravely  leading  on  the  gallant  9th, 
under  a  most  wasting  and  destructive  fire  of  grape,  canister,  and 
musketry.  Colonel  Trousdale,  who  commanded  the  14th,  was 
severely  wounded  twice,  although  he  could  not  be  induced  (o 


176 

leave  his  command,  but  continued  to  lead  on  his  noble  regi 
ment  until  the  heights  were  carried,  and  the  enemy's  works 
completely  in  our  possession. 

The  General-in-Chief  had  ordered  General  Worth  to  take  a 
position  at  easy  supporting  distance  from  the  base  of  Pillow's 
line,  in  order  to  be  at  hand  should  his  services  be  needed.  It 
appears  that  the  latter  officer  soon  called  for  Worth's  whole 
division,  which  was  being  held  in  reserve  close  by,  but  Worth 
only  sent  him  Clark's  brigade.  The  propriety  of  this  apparent 
disobedience  of  orders  was  soon  manifest,  for  on  observing  that 
the  large  body  of  troops  on  Quitman's  right  was  receiving  re 
inforcements  'from  the  city,  General  Scott  sent  instructions 
forthwith  to  move  against  and  turn,  if  possible,  the  enemy's 
works  on  our  opposite  flank,  in  order  that,  he  might  reach  a 
point  from  which  to  threaten  or  attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear, 
after  moving  by  the  road  along  the  northern  b-ise  of  Chapulte- 
pec.  This  movement  was  promptly  and  skilfully  performed  by 
Worth,  with  the  remaining  portion  of  his  command,  consisting 
of  Garland's  brigade,  Smith's  light  battalion,  Duncan's  field 
battery,  and  three  squadrons  of  dragoons  under  Major  Sumnor. 
Moving  onward  beyond  the  grove  on  the  west,  Worth  reached 
the  road  which  -was  occupied  by  a  flanking  force  under  Colonel 
Trousdale,  and  being  supported  by  a  portion  of  Garland's 
brigade,  lie  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  before  him,  and 
capturing  one  ol  his  batteries.  Continuing  his  onward  move 
ment,  Worth,  with  the  remnant  of  his  command,  passed  the 
main  works  of  the  Military  College,  or  Castle  of  Chapultepec, 
opening  a  brisk  fire  at  the  same  time  against  the  right  of  the 
opposing  columns  which  reached  the  main  road  on  that  side, 
about  the  time  the  general  rout  commenced,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  all  the  strong  and  formidable  works  of  the  ene 
my,  including  those  in  and  about  the  Castle  of  Chapultepec. 

The  seventh  grand  battle  of  the  Valley  of  Mexico  had  now 
been  fought,  and  the  last  fortification  without  the  walls  of  the 
city  had  fallen  before  the  prowess  of  the  American  arms. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

This  powerful  arid  commanding  fortress,  with  all  its  arma 
ments  and  appurtenances, 'being  now  reduced,  and  in  complete 
possession  of  the  American  forces,  the  next  important  move 
ment  of  the  day  was  to  pursue  the  scattered  fragments  and 
broken  columns  of  the  routed  garrison  in  their  hasty  and  preci- 


IN  MEXICO.  177 

pil,ato  flight  towards  the  city.  It  was  soon  ascertained  that 
there  were  but  two  practicable  routes  over  which  troops  could 
pass  from  Chapultepec  towards  the  city ;  the  one  on  the  right 
entering  the  Capitaj.  through  the  Garita  de  Belen,  intersecting 
with  the  road  from  the  south  by  the  way  of  Picdad,  and  the 
other  to  the  left,  which  unites  with  the  western  or  San  Cosme 
road  without  the  walls  of  the  city,  and  leading  through  the  San 
Cosme  gate ;  both  of  the9fc  routes  reach  the  city  by  elevated 
causeways. 

The  road  is  a  kind  of  double  track,  passing  on  each  side  of  a 
strong  and  beautifully  built  stone  aqueduct,  at  some  places  of 
great  height  from  the  ground,  and  resting  on  large  pillars  or 
open  arches,  about  ten  feet  apart,  and  which  served  as  quite  a 
protection  to  our  troopfe  in  their  advance  upon  the  city,  as  they 
were  so  strong  that  even  the  heaviest  artillery  could  have  but 
very  little  effect  upon  them.  Portions  of  these  aqueducts  near 
the  gates  of  the  city  were  also  defended  by  fortifications  and 
breast  works,  by  which  the  enemy  intended  to  dispute  the  pas 
sage  of  the  army  of  invasion,  at  the  very  threshold  of  his  own 
domicil;  and  though  routed  from  every  other  point,  he  had  thus 
determined  to  make  a  last  desperate  stand  at  the  very  portals  of 
the  holy  altars  of  his  long  cherished  religion,  and  beneath  the 
scrutinizing  gaze  of  the  pafron  saint  of  Mexico.  In  pursuing 
the  enemy  from  Chapultepec  toward  the  gates  of  the  city, 
Worth  took  the  route  leading  by  the  way  of  the  San  Cosme 
aqueduct  which  lay  on  the  left,  while  Q.uitman  led  his  com 
mand  towards  the  Garita  de  Belen,  or  by  the  south  western 
gate.  Wishing  to  profit  by  the  consternation  and  dismay  which 
had  spread  through  the  enemy's  ranks  iu  consequence  of  their 
signal  defer.t  at  Chapultepec,  all  the  available  artillery  was  or 
dered  to  push  rapidly  forward  and  press  hard  upon  the  rear  of 
the  retreating  forces,  for  the  purpose  of  harrassing  and  annoy 
ing  them  as  much  as  possible.  ,The  respective  brigades  of 
Clark  and  Cadwallader  were  ordered  to  move  to  the  support  of 
Wrorth,  followed  by  the  necessary  amount  of  artillery,  for 
playing  upon  the  strongholds  of  the  enemy  about  the  gates. 
Pierce's  brigade,  with  a  number  of  siege  pieces,  was  ordered 
to  be  held  in  readiness  at  easy  supporting  distance  of  Quitman's 
operations,  which  had  already  commenced  in  the  direction  of 
the  Garita  de  Belen. 

Colonel  Morgan  having  been  severely  wounded  at  Churu- 
busco,  from  which  he  had  not  yet  recovered,  his  regiment,  the 
15th  Infantry,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Howard,  was  left* 
to  garrison  the  castle  of  Chapultepec,  and  to  guard  the  prison* 
ers,  arms,  and  munitions  of  war,  which  had  been  captured  at 


178 

that  place.  At  the  junction  of  the  roads  on  the  San  Cosme  route, 
were  found  some  very  strong  fortifications,  which  might  have 
presented  a  very  formidable  obstacle  to  the  advance  of  Worth, 
but  they  had  been  completely  deserted,  and  not  a  gun  was  found 
upon  the  walls,  which  was  considered  a  proof  that  they  either 
expected  our  army  to  be  cut  to  pieces  before  the  walls  of  Cha- 
pultepec,  or  that  Scott  would  concentrate  his  forces  against  the 
south  gate,  which  they  were  led  fully  to  anticipate  from  the 
active  operations  of  Twiggs,  whose  object  was  to  encourage 
the  delusion  and  call  off  the  enemy's  forces  from  the  intended 
point  of  attack.  The  advance  of  the  American  army  from 
Chapultepec  was  so  rapid  and  overwhelming  that  the  enemy 
did  not  have  time  to  change  their  guns,  and  bring  them  to  bear 
upon  the  proper  point,  before  it  was  too*"  late,  and  the  disgar- 
nished  works  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  our  victorious  troops. 
Worth  having  passed  rapidly  on  towards  the  suburbs  about 
the  San  Cosme,  was  soon  engaged  in  a  street  fight,  which  the 
enemy  were  enabled  to  carry  on  from  the  windows,  and  from 
behind  the  parapet  walls  on  the  flat  roofs  of  the  houses,  and  in 
fact  from  every  nook  and  corner  which  would  afford  them  pro 
tection  from  our  sharp  shooters.  At  this  crisis  of  affairs,  it 
was  thought  proper  to  push  forward  into  active  operation  the 
mountain  howitzer  battery  which  wts  attached  to  Cadwaladcr's 
brigade,  supported  by  small  bodies  of  infantry  designed  to  act 
as  skirmishers  and  pioneers,  some  of  whom  \vere  armed  with 
pick-axes  and  crowbars,  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  doors  and 
windows,  and  cutting  through  the  walls,  by  which  process  the 
enemy's  stronger  works  could  be  reached,  without  exposure  to 
the  destructive  fire  which  raked  the  streets  from  every  point  in 
front.  By  these  means  a  position  was  soon  gained  from  which 
the  enemy  could  be  annoyed  to  advantage,  depriving  them  at 
the  same  time,  of  the  partial  protection  which  they  had  pre 
viously  enjoyed,  while  the  incessant  vollies  from  our  sharp 
shooters  were  cutting  them  down  at  every  turn.  With  great 
labor  and  fatigue,  and  not  a  little  hard  'fighting,  Worth  had 
worked  his  way  onward  toward  the  main  works  of  the  city,  and 
by  night-fall  had  succeeded  in  capturing  two  batteries  upon  the 
suburbs,  after  driving  the  enemy  from  several  of  their  strongest 
positions.  Night  coming  on,  all  further  active  operations  were 
suspended ;  strong  and  efficient  guards  were  posted  at  every 
available  point;  and  being  directed  by  orders  from  general  head 
quarters,  Worth  placed  his  troops  in  position  and  bivouacked 
Jor  the  night.  There  was  now  but  one  formidable  obstacle  be 
tween  his  present  position  and  the  Grand  Plaza  in  front  of  the 
National  Palace,  and  that  was  a  very  strong  and  well  fortified 


IN  MEXICO.  179 

building  called  San  Cosme  custom  house,  and  it  was  well 
known  that  even  that  must  eventually  yield  before  the  deadly 
and  direct  fire  of  our  heavier  guns.  The  Commander-in-Chief 
had  been  convinced  from  satisfactory  evidence,  that  the  San 
Cosme  gate,  or  the  route  pursued  by  Worth,  was  much  the 
most  easy  of  access  in  reaching  the  heart  of  the  city,  as  its  de 
fences  were  not  so  strong,  and  its  garrison  less  numerous  and 
efficient,  as  the  previous  manoeuvring  of  Twiggs  had  induced 
the  enemy  to  concentrate  their  heaviest  pieces,  and  most  active 
and  efficient  corps,  at  or  near  the  south  and  south  western 
gates.  In  consequence  of  which,  orders  had  repeatedly  been 
communicated  to  General  Quitman  not  to  expose  his  command 
unnecessarily  in  attempting  to  cut  his  way  through  the  enemy's 
stronger  positions  at  the  Garita  de  Belen,  but  only  hold  his  po 
sition  and  manoeuvre  and  threaten  the  south  western  gate,  and 
keep  the  enemy's  attention,  as  much  as  possible,  directed  to 
that  point,  in  order  to  favor  the  main  attack  by  Worth  at  the 
San  Cosme.  But  being  in  hot  pursuit,  and  the  blood  and  met 
tle  of  his  tioops  being  up,  he  either  could  not,  or  did  not,  re 
strain  their  ardor  and  impetuosity,  and  they  continued  to  press 
forward  with  the  rage  and  fierceness  of  hungry  tigers,  eager  for 
the  final  result,  against  the  powerful  defenses  of  the  Belen, 
within  range  of  the  guns  of  the  citadel,  which  was  perhaps  the 
strongest  fortified  point  within  the  city's  gates. 

Quitman  well  knew  that  the  most  important  crisis  in  the 
whole  war  had  now  arrived,  and  that  every  officer  in  the  army 
now  had  his  eye  fixed  upon  the  National  Palace  as  the  goal  of 
his  highest  ambition,  and  he  did  not  intend  to  be  behind  in  the 
race,  if  hard  fighting  would  help  him  on.  Ably  supported  by 
the  brigades  of  Shields  and  Smith,  he  continued  to  push  on  his 
exhausted  troops  against  every  obstacle,  exposed  at  every  step 
to  flank  and  direct  fires  from  the  enemy's  lines;  yet,  with  four 
times  his  number,  in  chosen  positions,  before  him,  he  fal 
tered  not,  but  continued  to  lead  on  and  encourage  his  men, 
as  if  confident  of  victory.  He  was  aware  that  a  route  had 
been  assigned  him,  and  also  one  to  Worth,  and  that  they  both 
led  to  the  Halls  of  the  Montezumas,  and  he  intended  to  reach 
that  point  of  universal  ambition  with  or  before  his  distinguished 
competitor,  and  the  sequel  will  show  that  he  was  not  disap 
pointed. 

He  was  enabled  to  turn  one  of  the  enemy's  strongest  batte 
ries  and  pass  the  outer  gate  before  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ; 
but  this  was  not  effected  without  considerable  loss,  which  was 
very  much  increased  by  the  firm  and  steady  spirit  with  which  he 
gained  and  held  that  dangerous  and  much  exposed  position. 


180 

The  Garita  de  Belen  was  the  sanguinary  altar  upon  which  the 
lives  of  many  brave  and  valuable  men  and  officers  were  offered 
up.  It  was  here  that  Captain  Drum  and  Lieutenant  Benjamin, 
of  the  4th  Artillery,  fell  mortally  wounded,  whose  loss  the 
whole  army  will  long  mourn  and  sensibly  feel.  Lieutenant 
Porter,  of  the  same  corps,  was  also  slightly  wounded.  The 
Palmetto  regiment  was  also  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  two  of 
her  most  gallant  and  accomplished  young  officers,  viz :  Lieu 
tenants  J.  B.  Moragne  and  j.  VV,  Steeii,  the  former  of  which 
was  shot  dead  upon  the  field  and  terribly  mangled  by  a  cannon 
ball;  the  latter  died  soon  after  the  surrender  of  the  city. 

Quitman  was  now  within  the  city,  and  had  succeeded  in 
erecting  several  new  defenses,  by  which  he  was  enabled  more 
easily  to  hold  his  position,  which  he  had  won  and  maintained  at 
such  a  fearful  cost,  and  from  which  it  was  his  design  to  open 
upon  the  enemy  in  his  vicinity  at  daylight  on  the  coming  morn 
ing.  Night  coming  on,  he  called  off  his  troops  and  ceased 
operations,  while  his  whole  command  bivouacked  almost  im 
mediately  under  the  guns  of  the  citadel,  which  yet  lay  between 
him  and  the  much  desired  goal  of  his  ambition. 

At  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the*14th  of  September,  Gen 
eral  Scott  was  waited  upon  by  a  deputation  from  the  ayuntami- 
ento.  or  city  council,  who  officially  informed  him  that  the  civil 
and  military  authorities,  including  the  army  and  the  federal 
government,  had  precipitately  left  the  Capital  some  three  hours 
before,  leaving  the  city  and  its  inhabitants  to  the  mercy  of  the 
conquerors.  This  deputation  also  demanded  of  General  Scott, 
in  behalf  of  the  church,  the  citizens  generally,  and  the  muni 
cipal  authorities,  the  terms  of  capitulation  which  his  Excellency, 
the  commander  of  the  American  army,  might  see  proper  to 
grant.  But  the  General-in-Chief  promptly  refused  to  sign  any 
capitulation,  or  offer  any  terms  to  the  delegated  authorities  of 
the  city,  alledging  as  a  reason  that  he  had  considered  the  city 
in  the  possession  of  our  army  since  the  gates  were  passed  by 
Worth  and  Quitman  on  the  afternoon  of  the  previous  day.  He 
also  informed  them  that  he  intended  to  levy  military  contribu 
tions  upon  the  city,  and  that  the  army  under  his  command 
should  be  trammelled  by  no  restrictions,  nor  become  subject  to 
any  terms  not  self-imposed,  or  which  was  not,  in  his  opinion, 
required  by  the  honor  and  dignity  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
generous  and  liberal  spirit  of  the  age. 

This  interview  with  'the  delegated  authorities  of  the  city 
having  closed,  orders  were  immediately  communicated  to  Gen 
erals  Worth  and  Quitman  to  advance  slowly  and  with  great 
caution  towards  the  populous  heart  of  this  ancient  and  mighty 


IN  MEXICO.  181 

city,  and  to  keep  a  sharp  look  out  at  every  point,  and  guard,  if 
possible,  against  any  treachery  or  snare  of  the  enemy.  After 
occupying  the  strongest  and  most  important  points  which  fell  in 
his  way,  General  Quitman  reached  the  Grand  Plaza,  or  public 
square,  immediately  in  front  of  the  National  Palace,  where  he 
organized  and  stationed  efficient  guards,  and  in  another  moment 
the  stars  and  stripes  of  the  United  States  were  seen  fluttering 
proudly  and  freely  in  the  breeze  of  heaven,  from  the  tall  flag 
staff  which  surmounts  the  dome  of  the  halls  of  the  National 
Legislature.  This  must  have  been  a  proud  moment  to  the  brave 
old  General  and  his  subordinates,  and  in  fact  his  whole  com 
mand  down  to  the  lowest  private  in  the  ranks,  seemed  1o  par 
take  of  the  general  enthusiasm;  to  be  the  first  at  this  goal  of 
general  ambition  was  by  no  means  a  matter  of  mere  ordinary 
distinction.  Around  him  arose  in  grandeur  and  magnificence, 
the  spires  and  steeples  and  lofty  domes  of  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  powerful  cities  on  the  American  continent;  while 
high  above  the  loftiest  pinnacle  floated  our  torn  and  tattered 
battle  flag,  being  the  first  strange  banner  that  had  ever  waved 
over  that  proud  and  haughty  palace  for  more  than  three  hun 
dred  years.  Worth  was*  halted  by  superior  orders  near  the 
Alameda,  about,  three  squares  from  the  palace,  else  he  might 
have  given  Quitman  a  closer  race  for  the  honor  he  had  so  no 
bly  won.  But  the  latter  General,  on  this  occasion  in  particu 
lar,  seems  to  deserve  superior  distinction,  from, the  fact  that  he 
had  reached  this  point  by  a  route  which  the  General-in-Chief 
deemed  extremely  difficult  and  hazardous,  so  much  so  that  he 
had  originally  intended,  and  extended  orders  to  that  effect,  that. 
Quitman  should  only  manoeuvre  and  threaten  the  Garita  de 
Belen,  in  order  to  favor  the  more  easy  and  less  dangerous  route 
of  Worth  by  the  way  of  the  San  Cosme  gate,  which  was  then 
considered  the  only  safe  and  practicable  point  at  which  the  city 
could  be  entered  without  great  sacrifice  of  life.  Soon  after  our 
army  had  entered,  and  was  in  the  act  of  occupying  the  city,  a 
sharp  and  spirited  fire  was  commenced  upon  our  columns  from 
different  parts  of  the  city,  and  kept  up  with  some  effect.  It 
was  soon  discovered  that  this  fire  proceeded  from  the  parapet 
walls  on  the  flat  roofs  of  the  houses  and  from  the  windows  and 
corners  of  the  street,  and  which  was  being  carried  on  by  some 
two  or  three  thousand  convicts  which  had  been  liberated  from 
prison  the  night  before  by  the  flying  government,  and  joined  by 
a  large  number  of  disbanded  soldiers  who  had  thrown  off  their 
uniforms  as  a  pretext  for  protection,  and  were  fighting  in  the 
garb  of  citizens.  This  savage  and  unnatural  warfare  lasted 
more  than  twenty -four  hours,  in  spite  of  every  effort  that  could 


182 

be  made  by  our  army  and  the  civil  authorities  of  the  city,  to  put 
down  the  bloody  and  infuriated  mob,  and  which  was  not  finally 
quelled  until  a  number  of  our  men  and  officers  had  fallen  victims 
to  their  fury.  Their  object  probably  was  to  gratify  their  na 
tional  hatred  and  keep  up  the  confusion  in  the  city,  so  as  to 
enable  them  to  plunder  the  wealthier  inhabitants,  and  more 
especially  the  vacant  houses  of  those  who  had  deserted  their 
homes  on  the  approach  of  our  army  towards  the  city.  If  our 
army  had  been  thus  attacked  and  harrassed  by  the  citizens 
generally,  the  affair  would  probably  have  resulted  quite  differ 
ently,  for  in  such  a  case  the  fury  and  resentment  of  our  army 
could  not  have  been  restrained,  and  the  city  would  most  evi 
dently  have  suffered  much  more  severely  than  it  did ;  but  it  was 
soon  ascertained  that  the  skirmishers  were  only  a  body  of  con 
victs,  outlaws  and  robbers,  and  the  citizens  generally,  instead  of 
encouraging  or  joining  them,  were  using  every  effort  to  put 
them  down. 

As  my  notice  of  the  operations  of  Quitman's  command  after 
the  storming  of  the  castle  of  Chapultepec,  has  been  rather  brief 
and  limited,  the  reader  might  have  a  fuller  and  more  satisfactory 
view  of  the  movements  of  his  command  by  inserting  an  extract 
from  his  official  report,  and  for  that  purpose  the  following  is 
subjoined : — "The  Chapultepec  road  is  a  broad  avenue,  flanked 
with  deep  ditches  and  marshy  ground  on  either  side.  Along 
the  middle  of  the  avenue  runs  the  aqueduct,  supported  by  arch 
es  of  heavy  masonry,  through  the  garita  or  gate  of  Belen  into 
the  city.  The  rifles,  supported  by  the  South  Carolina  regiment,' 
and  followed  by  the  remainder  of  Smith's  brigade,  were  now 
advanced  from  arch  to  arch  towards  another  strong  battery 
which  had  been  thrown  across  the  joad,  about  a  mile  from  Cha 
pultepec,  having  four  embrasures,  with  a  redan  work  on  the 
right.  At  this  point,  the  enemy,  with  considerable  force,  made 
an  obstinate  resistance ;  but  with  the  aid  of  an  effective  fire 
from  an  8-inch  howitzer  directed  by  the  indefatigable  Captain 
Drum,  *and  the  daring  bravery  of  the  gallant  rifle  regiment,  it 
was  carried  by  assault. 

"The  column  was  here  reorganized  for  an  attack  upon  the 
batteries  at  the  garita  of  the  city.  The  regiment  of  riflemen, 
intermingled  with  the  bayonets  of  the  South  Carolina  regiment, 
were  placed  in  advance — three  rifles  and  three  bayonets  under 
each  arch.  They  were  supported  by  the  residue  of  Shields' 
brigade,  the  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment,  and  the  remainder  of 
Smith's  brigade,  together  with  a  part  of  the  6th  Infantry,  under 
Major  Bonneville,  who  had  fallen  into  this  road,  In  this  order 
th«  •olumn  resolutely  advanced  from  arch  to  arch  of  the  aque- 


IN  MEXICO.  183 

duct,  and  under  a  tremendous  fire  of  artillery  and  small  arms 
from  the  batteries  at  the  garita,  the  Paseo,  and  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy  on  the  Piedad  road  to  the  right,  extending  from  the 
left  of  the  garita.  Lieutenant  Benjamin  having  brought  up  a 
16-pounder,  Captain  Drum  and  his  efficient  subalterns  were 
pouring  a  constant  and  destructive  fire  into  the  garita.  As 
the  enfilading  fire  of  the  enemy  from  the  Piedad  road  became 
very  annoying  to  the  advance  of  the  columns,  a  few  rounds  of 
canister  were  thrown  by  our  artillery  in  that  direction,  which 
effectually  dispersed  them.  The  whole  column  was  now  under 
a  galling  fire,  but  it  continued  to  move  forward  steadily  and 
firmly.  The  rifles,  well  sustained  by  the  South  Carolinians, 
gallantly  pushed  on  to  the  attack ;  and  at  twenty  minutes  past 
one  the  garita  was  carried  and  the  city  of  Mexico  entered  at 
that  point.  In  a  few  moments,  nearly  the  whole  command  was 
compactly  up — a  large  part  of  it  within  the  garita.  The  ob 
stinacy  of  the  defence  at  the  garita  may  be  accounted  for  by 
our  being  opposed  at  that  point  by  General  Santa  Anna  him 
self,  who  is  said  to  have  retreated  by  the  Paseo  to  the  San 
Cosme  road,  there  to  try  his  fortune  against  General  Worth. 
On  our  approach  to  the  garita,  a  body  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
seen  on  a  cross  road  threatening  our  left,  were  dispersed  by  a 
brisk  fire  of  artillery  from  the  direction  of  the  San  Cosme  road. 
I  take  pleasure  in  acknowledging  that  this  seasonable  aid  came 
from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Duncan's  battery,  which  had  been 
kindly  advanced  from  the  San  Cosme  road  in  that  direction  by 
General  Worth's  orders.  Upon  the  taking  of  the  garita,  the 
riflemen  and  South  Carolina  regiment  rushed  forward  and  oc 
cupied  the  arches  of  the  aqueduct,  within  a  hundred  yards  of 
the  citadel. 

"The  ammunition  of  our  heavy  guns  having  been  expended, 
a  captured  8 -pounder  was  turned  upon  the  enemy  and  served 
with  good  effect  until  the  ammunition  taken  with  it  was  also 
expended.  The  piece  supported  by  our  advance  had  been  run 
forward  in  front  of  the  garita.  Twice  had  Major  Gladden,  of 
the  South  Carolina  regiment,  furnished  additional  men  to  work 
the  guns,  when  the  noble  and  brave  Captain  Drum,  who,  with 
indomitable  energy  and  iron  nerve,  had  directed  the  artillery 
throughout  the  trying  day,  fell  mortally  wounded  by  the  side  of 
his  gun.  A  few  moments  afterwards,  Lieutenant  Benjamin, 
who  had  displayed  the  same  cool,  decided  courage,  met  a  simi 
lar  fate.  The  enemy,  now  perceiving  that  our  heavy  ammuni 
tion  had  been  expended,  redoubled  their  exertions  to  drive  u? 
out  of  the  lodgment  we  had  effected.  A  terrible  fire  of  artillery 
and  small  arms  was  opened  from  the  citadel,  three  hundred 


184  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

yards  distant,  from  the  batteries  on  the  Paseo,  and  the  build 
ings  on  our  right  in  front.  Amid  this  iron  shower,  which 
swept  the  road  on  both  sides  of  the  aqueduct,  it.  was  impossi 
ble  to  bring  forward  ammunition  from  our  large  trains.  While 
awaiting  the  darkness,  to  bring  up  our  great  guns,  and  place 
them  in  battery,  the  enemy  under  cover  of  their  guns,  attempted 
several  sallies  from  the  citadel  and  buildings  on  the  right,  but 
were  readily  repulsed  by  the  skirmishing  parties  of  rifles  and 
infantry.  To  prevent  our  flank  from  being  enfiladed  by  mus 
ketry  from  the  Paseo,  Captains  Naylor  and  Loeser,  2d  Penn 
sylvania  regiment,  were  ordered  with  their  companies  to  a  low 
sand-bag  defence,  about  one  hundred  yards  in  that  direction. 
They  gallantly  took  this  position  and  held  it  in  the  face  of  a 
severe  fire,  until  the  object  was  attained.  At  night  the  lire  of 
the  enemy  ceased.  Lieutenant  Tower,  of  the  Engineers,  who, 
before  and  at  the  attack  upon  the  batteries  at  Chapultepec,  had 
given  important  aid,  was  now  seriously  wounded.  It  was, 
therefore,  fortunate  that  in  the  commencement  of  the  route  to 
the  city,  Lieutenant  Beauregard,  of  the  Engineers,  joined  me. 
I  was  enabled  during  the  day  to  avail  myself  of  his  valuable 
services  ;  and  although  disabled,  for  a  time,  by  a  wound  receiv 
ed  during  the  day,  he  superintended  during  the  whole  night  the 
erection  of  two  batteries  within  the  garita  for  our  heavy  guns, 
and  a  breastwork  on  our  right  for  infantry,  which,  with  his  ad 
vice,  I  had  determined  to  construct.  By  the  indefatigable  en 
ergy  of  my  acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Lieutenant 
Lovell,  my  volunteer  aid,  Captain  G.  F.  M.  Davis,  and  Lieuten 
ant  H.  Brown,  3d  artillery,  the  sand-bags  and  ammunition  were 
procured;  Lieutenant  Beauregard,  assisted  by  Lieut.  Coupe, 
directing  the  construction  of  one  battery  in  person,  and  Lieu 
tenant  W.  H.  Wood,  3d  Infantry,  the  other,  before  the  dawn  of 
day,  by  the  persevering  exertions  of  Captains  Fairchild  and 
Taylor,  of  the  New  York  regiment,  who  directed  the  working 
parties,  the  parapets  were  completed,  and  a  24-pounder,  an 
18-pounder,  and  an  8-inch  howitzer,  were  placed  in  battery  by 
Captain  Steptoe,  3d  artillery,  who,  to  my  great  satisfaction,  had 
rejoined  my  command  in  the  evening.  The  heavy  labor  re 
quired  to  construct  these  formidable  batteries,  under  the  very 
guns  of  the  citadel,  was  performed  with  the  utmost  cheerful 
ness  by  the  gallant  men,  whose  strong  arms  and  stout  hearts 
had  already  been  tested  in  two  days  of  peril  and  toil. 

"During  the  night,  while  at  the  trenches,  Brigadier-general 
Pierce,  one  of  whose  regiments  (the  9th  infantry,)  had  joined 
my  column  during  the  day,  reported  to  me  in  person.  He  was 
instructed  to  place  that  regiment  in  reserve  at  the  battery  in 


IN  MEXICO.  185 

the  rear,  for  the  protection  of  Steptoe's  light  battery  and  the 
ammunition  at  that  point.  The  General  has  my  thanks  for  his 
prompt  attention  to  these  orders.  At  dawn  of  day  on  the  14th, 
when  Captain  Steptoe  was  preparing  his  heavy  missiles,  a 
white  flag  came  from  the  citadel,  the  bearers  of  which  invited 
me  to  take  possession  of  this  fortress,  and  gave  me  the  intelli 
gence  that  the  city  had  been  abandoned  by  Santa  Anna  and  his 
army.  My  whole  command  was  immediately  ordered  under 
arms.  By  their  own  request,  Lieutenants  Loveli  and  Beaure- 
gard  were  authorized  to  go  to  the  citadel  in  advance,  to  ascer 
tain  the  truth  of  the  information.  At  a  signal  from  the  ram- 
parts,  the  column,  General  Smith's  brigade  in  front,  and  the 
South  Carolina  regiment,  left  in  garrison  at  the  garita,  marched 
into  the  citadel.  Having  taken  possession  of  this  work,  in 
which  we  found  fifteen  pieces  of  cannon  mounted,  and  as  many 
not  up,  with  the  extensive  military  armaments  which  it  con 
tained,  the  2d  Pennsylvania  regimsnt  was  left  to  garrison  it. 
Understanding  that  great  depredations  were  going  on  in  the  pal 
ace  and  public  buildings,  I  moved  the  column  in  that  direction  in 
the  same  order,  followed  by  Captain  Steptoe's  light  battery, 
through  the  principal  streets,  into  the  grand  plaza,  where  it 
was  formed  in  front  of  the  National  Palace.  Captain  Roberts, 
of  the  rifle  regiment,  who  had  led  the  advance  company  of  the 
storming  party  at  Chapultepec,  and  had  greatly  distinguished 
himself  during  the  preceding  day,  was  detailed  by  me  to  plant, 
the  star  spangled  banner  of  our  country  upon  the  National 
Palace.  The  flag,  the  first  strange  banner  that  had  ever  waved 
over  that  palace  since  the  conquest  of  Cortez,  was  displayed 
and  saluted  with  enthusiasm  by  the  whole  command.  The 
palace,  already  crowded  with  Mexican  thieves  and  robbers,  was 
placed  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Watson,  with  his  bat 
talion  of  marines.  By  his  active  exertions,  it  was  soon  cleared 
and  guarded  from  further  spoliation. 

"On  our  first  arrival  in  the  plaza,  Lieutenant  Beau  regard 
was  despatched  to  report  the  facts  to  (he  General-in-Chief,  who 
was  expected  to  enter  the  city  by  the  Alameda,  with  the  column 
under  General  Worth.  About  8  o'clock,  the  General-in-Chief 
arrived  in  the  plaza,  and  was  received  and  greeted  with  enthu 
siasm  by  the  troops.  The  populace,  who  had  begun  to  be  tur 
bulent  immediately  after  our  arrival  in  the  plaza,  appeared  for 
a  time  to  be  checked,  but  in  one  hour  afterwards,  as  our  troops 
began  to  disperse  for  quarters,  they  were  fired  upon  from  the 
tops  of  houses  and  windows.  This  continued  that  day  and  the 
succeeding,  until,  by  the  timely  and  vigorous  measures  adopted 
by  the  General-in-Chief,  the  disturbances  were  quelled.  Two 


186  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

detachments  from  my  command,  not  heretofore  mentioned  in 
this  report,  should  be  noticed.  Captain  Gallagher  and  Lieu 
tenant  Reid,  who,  with  their  companies  of  New  York  volun 
teers,  had  been  detailed  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  by  General 
Shields  to  the  support  of  our  battery  No.  2,  well  performed 
their  service.  The  former,  by  the  orders  of  Captain  Huger, 
was  detained  at  that  battery  during  the  storming  of  Chapultepec. 
The  latter,  a  brave  and  energetic  young  officer,  being  relieved 
from  the  battery  on  the  advance  to  the  castle,  hastened  to  the 
assault,  and  was  among  the  first  to  ascend  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
where  he  was  severely  wounded. 

"In  all  the  operations  of  the  several  corps  under  my  com 
mand,  to  which  this  report  refers,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to 
testify  to  the  devoted  courage  with  which  they  faced  every  dan 
ger,  and  the  cheerfulness  and  alacrity  with  which  they  met 
every  toil  and  exposure.  A  simple  narrative  of  those  military 
events,  crowned  as  they  were  with  complete  success,  is  a  higher 
compliment  than  any  expressions  of  my  opinion  can  bestow 
upon  the  general  good  conduct  of  the  whole  command.  I  have 
already  alluded  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  storming  parties. 
They  deserve  the  highest  commendation.  The  losses  sustained 
by  Captain  Drum's  heroic  little  band  of  artillerists  from  the 
fourth  artillery,  evince  their  exposure  during  the  day.  I  do 
them,  officers  and  men,  but  justice  when  I  add  that  no  enco 
mium  upon  their  conduct  and  skill  would  be  misplaced. 

"This  report  has  already  shown  the  prominent  part  taken  by 
the  regiment  of  riflemen  under  the  command  of  the  brave  and 
intrepid  Major  Loring,  who  fell  severely  wounded  by  my  side, 
while  receiving  orders  for  the  final  charge  upon  the  garita. 
After  the  taking  of  the  batteries  of  Chapultepec,  in  which  por 
tions  of  this  corps  took  an  active  part,  this  efficient  and  splen 
did  regiment  were  employed  as  sharp  shooters  in  the  advance, 
through  the  arches  of  the  aqueduct,  where  their  services  were 
invaluable.  My  only  concern  was  to  restrain  their  daring  im 
petuosity.  The  gallant  and  unassuming  Palmetto  regiment, 
which  had  charged  up  the  ascent  of  Chapultepec  without  firing 
a  gun,  was  also  employed  to  support  and  aid  the  rifles.  In  this 
service  their  loss  was  severe.  Among  others,  their  brave  and 
efficient  commander,  Major  Gladden,  was  severely  wounded, 
and  Lieutenants  J.  B.  Moragne  and  Willis  Cantey  killed.  But 
they  well  sustained  the  reputation  they  had  acquired  at  Vera 
Cruz,  Contreras  and  Churubusco. 

"For  the  admirable  conduct  of  the  other  corps  of  my  com 
mand,  I  refer  to  the  reports  of  Brigadier  General  Shields  and 
Smith,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Geary.  The  brilliant  successes 


IN  MEXICO.  187 

of  the  day  were  not  acquired  without  considerable  loss.  The 
reports  herewith  transmitted  show  that,  in  my  whole  command, 
eight  officers  and  sixty-nine  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  were  killed,  and  four  hundred  and  sixty-four  officers 
and  men  were  wounded,  and  nine  men  missing,  making  the 
total  of  casualties  five  hundred  and  forty,  besides  those  in  the 
9th  regiment  of  infantry,  while  under  my  command,  not  reported 
to  me.  Brigadier  General  Shields  had  solicited  from  me  the 
command  of  the  storming  parties  on  the  morning  of  the  13th. 
Not  feeling  justified  in  permitting  so  great  an  exposure  of  an 
officer  of  his  rank  with  an  inadequate  command,  the  application 
was  declined.  Until  carried  from  the  field  on  the  night  of  the 
13th,  in  consequence  of  a  severe  wound  received  in  the  morn 
ing,  he  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry,  energy,  and  skill. 
In  Brevet  Brigadier  General  Smith,  who  was  ever  cool,  unem 
barrassed,  and  ready,  under  the  trying  exposures  of  the  day,  I 
found  an  able  and  most  efficient  supporter.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Geary,  who,  in  the  illness  of  Colonel  Roberts,  commanded  the 
2d  Pennsylvania  regiment,  constituting  the  second  brigade  of 
my  division,  was  wounded  before  the  walls  of  Chapultepec,  at 
the  head  of  his  corps,  but  soon  resumed  command  and  ren 
dered  good  service.  To  Majors  Loring  and  Dimick,  and 
Captains  Simonson  and  Alexander,  commanders  of  regiments 
in  Smith's  brigade;  Lieatenant  Colonel  Watson,  Majors  Glad 
den  and  Burnham,  and  Captain  Dunnovant,  commanders  in 
Shields'  brigade,  and  to  Major  Brindle,  who  for  a  time  com 
manded  his  regiment,  I  am  indebted  for  the  active  and  fearless 
discharge  of  their  duties  in  the  direction  of  the  operation  of 
their  respective  corps  while  under  their  orders. 

"Of  the  storming  parties,  in  addition  to  those  already  named 
in  this  report,  Captain  Dobbins,  3d  infantry;  Lieutenant  Hill, 
4th  artillery;  Lieutenant  Westcott,  2d  infantry;  Lieutenant 
Ste\vart,  of  the  rifles;  Lieutenant  Haskins,  1st  artillery;  Cap 
tain  Reynolds,  of  the  marines;  Captain  Miller,  2d  Pennsylvania 
regiment;  Lieutenant  Bell,  South  Carolina  regiment;  and 
Lieutenant  Wolf,  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment,  were  highly  dis 
tinguished  for  their  gallantry.  Captains  Backenstos,  Porter 
and  Tucker;  Lieutenants  Morris,  Hatch,  and  Granger,  of  the 
rifles ;  Captains  Blanding,  Desaussure  and  Marshall,  and  Lieu 
tenants  Selleck,  Lilley,  and  Moye,  of  the  South  Carolina  regi 
ment;  Captain  Taylor,  New  York  regiment;  Adjutant  Baker, 
of  the  marines ;  Lieutenant  F.  J.  Porter,  4th  artillery ;  and 
Lieutenant  Hare.  2d  Pennsylvania  regiment,  whose  conduct 
happened  to  fall  under  my  own  eye,  were  conspicuous  for  their 
bravery  and  efficiency.'1 


188  *,        SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

I  have  given  this  somewhat  lengthy  extract  from  official 
papers,  in  order  that  the  reader  might  be  more  fully  informed, 
from  the  most  reliable  authority,  of  the  movements  of  that  por 
tion  of  our  army  before  the  city,  which  won  the  most  imperish 
able  honors,  in  culling  their  way  by  lire  and  sword  through  the 
most  difficult  and  dangerous  approaches  to  the  National  Palace, 
that  dear-bought  goal  of  general  ambition.  I  would  not,  how 
ever,  be  understood  as  wishing  to  make  invidious  distinctions4 
between  the  conduct  of  different  commands,  which  is  by  no 
means  my  object,  for  I  am  willing  to  allow,  in  the  language  of 
General  Scott,  "that  the  Capital  was  not  taken  by  one  or  two 
.  corps,  but  by  the  talent,  the  science,  the  gallantry,  and  prowess 
of  the  entire  army  of  invasion."  If  any  corps  or  arm  of  the 
service  distinguished  itself  above  another,  it  was  owing  to 
the  more  fortunate  position  in  which  it.  happened  to  be  placed; 
for  it  is  conceded  by  all  the  officers,  and  the  General-in-Chief 
himself,  under  whose  immediate  eye  they  acted,  that  all  did, 
their  duty,  and  did  it  nobly,  fearlessly,  arid  faithfully.  Had 
such  not  been  the  cas£,  and  that  too  in  an  eminent  degree,  our 
army  never  could  have  entered  the  enemy's  Capital,  under  the 
circumstances  they  did,  and  against  such  fearful  odds. 

Either  from  an  unfortunate  misunderstanding  of  matters  at 
Washington,  or  from  a  design  on  the  part  of  the  War  Depart 
ment,  for  the  accomplishment  of  some  ulterior  object,  which 
would  be  forwarded  by  leading  astray  the  public  mind  on  that 
particular  subject,  the  numerical  strength  of  our  army  in  the 
Valley  of  Mexico  was  very  nearly  trebled,  and  was  so  repre 
sented  in  the  public  journals,  commencing  at  Washington. 
What  good  could  have  resulted  from  such  a  misrepresentation  as 
this,  was,  at  the  time,  difficult  to  conjecture  by  those  at  the  seat 
of  war,  and  was  a  source  of  unfeigned  regret  and  deep  mortifi 
cation  to  General  Scott,  as  well  as  the  officers  and  army  gen 
erally.  Whether  the  darling  object  which  prompted  this  strange 
manoeuvring,  on  the  part  of  the  civil  authorities  at  home,  was 
ever  accomplished,  I  am,  at  present,  totally  unable  to  say;  but. 
I  will  venture  the  assertion,  that  if  those  political  wire-pullers 
accomplished  no  more  at  home  than  they  did  abroad,  that  they 
were  at  least  badly  paid  for  their  trouble.  But  they  may  yet 
live  to  "receive  the  just  recompense  of  their  reward,"  as  we 
are  taught  in  the  Sacred  Writings  that  "the  laborer  is  worthy 
of  his  hire."  It  required  no  Argus  eyes  to  see  the  deep  and 
cunning  political  game  that  was  being  played  at  home  through 
out  the  whole  war.  We  find  Generar  Taylor  at  one  time 
sweeping  every  thing  before  him  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  with 
one  bold  and  successful  stroke  of  generalship  following  upon 


IS  MEXICO,  189 

the  heels  of  another  in  such  quick  and  spirited  succession,  that 
he  began  to  be  looked  up  to  as  the  rallying  point  and  leading 
spirit  of  the  war,  and  was  finally  likely  to  become  rather  too 
popular  across  the  Sabine,  while  his  claims  to  the  Presidency 
was  being  spoken  of  in  some  of  the  leading  journals  of  the 
day.  The  strong  arm  of  civil  power  is  put  forth,  and  he  is 
stripped  of  the  flower  of  his  army,  leaving  him  less  than  5,000 
men,  to  hold  the  field  against  203000 ;  but  neither  the  over 
whelming  numbers  of  the  foe  in  front,  nor  the  "cross  fire  from 
Washington,"  could  make  that  stern  old  General  either  retreat 
or  surrender,  but  taking  a  decided  stand,  and  boldly  maintaining 
his  ground,  he  stakes  his  all  upon  the  issue,  and  won  one  of  the 
brightest  feathers  that  ever  decked  his  military  cap.  Scott  had 
gathered  a  rich  harvest  of  laurels  in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  and 
had  wheeled  his  cannon  around  the  ancient  throne  of  the  Span 
ish  viceroys,  while  his  brilliant  achievements  were  being  talked 
of  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  But  just  as  he  had  reached 
the  zenith  of  his  glory,  and  had  sheathed  his  sword  for  a  few 
moments  repose  in  the  "  Halls  of  the  Montezumas,"  he  is  struck 
down — not.  by  a  ball  from  the  enemy's  batteries,  but  by  the 
irrevocable  fiat  of  Executive  authority,  upon  the  very  threshold 
of  the  goal  that  his  skill  and  valor  had  won,  while  a  subordinate 
is  assisted  in  an  incendiary  attempt  to  snatch  from  his  brow  the 
well-earned  laurels  which  he  had  gathered  in  one  of  the  most 
successful  and  brilliant  campaign?  upon  record;  while  a  culpa 
ble  and  high-handed  effort  is  made  to  invest  another  with  the 
glorious  achievements  of  victory,  and  make  him  the  hero  of  the 
war. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

After  waiting  nearly  three  months  at  Puebla  for  reinforce 
ments,  General  Scott  was  obliged,  from  mere  paucity  of  num 
bers,  to  leave  very  small,  if  not  inadequate  garrisons,  at  the 
different  posts  in  his  rear,  and  march  from  Puebla  against  the 
Capital  with  only  10,738,  rank  and  file,  and  2,429  of  that 
number  arrived  at  head  quarters  only  the  day  before  the  army 
commenced  its  march.  At  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Chu- 
rubusco,  on  the  20th  of  August,  the  general-iii-chief  was  only 
able  to  bring  into  the  field  8.497  effective  men,  the  sick  and 
dead  since  leaving  Puebla,  and  the  garrison  at  San  Augustine 
being  deducted.  At  the  battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  which  was 
fought  on  the  8th  of  September,  the  whole  force  under  Worth 


190  SCOTT'S 

that  \vas  engaged  in  the  fight,  amounted  only  to  3,251  efficient 
men,  which  were  brought  into  the  field.  After  deducting  still 
further  the  losses  of  sick,  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  different 
garrisons  stationed  at  the  different  points  occupied  as  our  depot 
and  hospitals,  our  whole  remaining  force  which  was  left  to 
operate  against  the  castle  of  Chapultepec,  and  the  San  Cosmc 
and  Belen,  on  the  12th  and  13th  of  September,  was  reduced 
to  7,180.  Then  after  deducting  a  competent  garrison  at  Cha- 
pultepec,  and  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  two  preceding 
days,  our  army  finally  entered  and  took  possession  oi  the  great 
Capital  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  with  all  its  military  stores 
and  munitions  of  war,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  Septem 
ber,  1847,  with  an  army  of  less  than  6,000  men  !  And  it  was 
evident,  from  information  obtained  from  the  most  reliable  and 
unquestionable  sources,  that  in  all  the  battles  of  the  valley,  our 
army  was,  in  every  instance,  opposed  by  not  less  than  four 
times  its  own  numbers  ;  and  in  many  instances  by  even  greater 
excesses.  Our  heavy  and  grievous  losses  will  serve  to  illus 
trate  the  daring  intrepidity  and  determined  courage  of  the  whole 
army,  and  the  bloody  and  obstinate  defence  of  the  works  they 
carried.  In  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  which 
were  fought  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  August,  and  which  was  the 
opening  of  the  series  of  bloody  conflicts  in  the  basin  of  the 
valley,  our  loss  in  killed  was  137,  including  fourteen  officers  ; 
in  wounded,  877,  including  62  officers ;  missing  (probably 
killed,)  38,  rank  and  file  ;  making  a  total  of  1052,  in  two  bat 
tles.  At  the  T>attle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  which  was  fought  on 
the  8th  of  September,  our  loss  in  killed  amounted  to  116,  includ 
ing  nine  officers  ;  wounded  665,  including  48  officers;  missing, 
18  rank  and  file  ;  making  a  total  of  789.  At  Chapultepec  and 
the  San  Cosme,  and  the  Garitade  Belen,  on  the  12th,  13th  and 
14th  of  September,  our  loss  in  killed  amounted  to  130,  includ 
ing  ten  officers;  wounded,  703,  including  68  officers;  missing, 
29  rank  and  file  ;  total  862.  The  grand  total  of  all  our  loss  in 
the  Valley  of  Mexico,  from  the  battle  of  Contreras  to  the 
taking  of  the  city,  amounts  to  2,703,  including  383  officers. 
The  number  of  Mexican  forces  engaged  in  defending  the  city, 
both  within  the  walls  and  its  immediate  vicinity,  has  never 
been  estimated  at  less  than  32,000  men,  who  always  fought 
with  the  advantages  of  position,  behind  breast  works  and  na 
tural  defences  of  the  strongest  and  most  formidable  kind.  And 
notwithstanding  the  energy  and  spirit  which  must  have  been 
imparted  to  the  contending  hosts  of  this  powerful  and  numer 
ous  army,  from  the  circumstance  of  their  fighting  in  full  view 
of  the  Capital,  and  under  the  immediate  eye  of  their  wives, 


IN  MEXICO.  191 

and  sisters,  and  friends,  yet  they  were  routed  at  every  point, 
and  driven  in  scattered  and  disorganized  masses  from  their 
beautiful  city,  while  the  foes  (as  they  supposed)  of  their  race 
and  their  religion,  were  pressing  hard  upon  them,  soon  to  pol 
lute  the  holy  altars  of  their  sanctuary  by  the  hostile  foot  of  the 
unrege nerate.  Their  killed  and  wounded  in  the  several  en 
gagements  before  the  city  exceeded  7,000  men,  including  offi 
cers  of  all  grades,  together  with  about  4,000  prisoners,  one- 
seventh  of  whom  were  officers,  including  13  Generals,  of 
whom  three  had  been  Presidents  of  the  Republic.  Among  the 
trophies  of  victor)  taken  by  our  army  were  numbered  20  colors 
and  standards,  75  pieces  of  artillery,  57  light  wall  pieces,  and 
20,000  stands  of  small  arms,  together  with  an  immense  quan 
tity  of  powder,  shot  and  shells.  This  was  perhaps  the  most 
numerous  and  best  equipped  army  that  ever  was  mustered  under 
the  Mexican  flag,  and  commanded  by  officers  who  had  been 
born  and  bred  in  the  school  of  the  soldier,  learning  the  hard 
lessons  of  discipline  and  tactics  amid  the  dangers  and  vicissi 
tudes  of  the  field  of  action,  for  which  the  struggles  with  the 
mother  country,  and  the  recent  revolutions  and  civil  wars  that 
almost  annually  rock  and  convulse  the  civil  institutions  of  that 
country  afford  such  ample  scope. 

General  Scott,  in  his  official  report,  says: — "  Of  that  enemy, 
once  so  formidable  in  numbers,  appointments,  artillery,  &c., 
twenty  odd  thousand  men  have  disbanded  themselves  in  de 
spair,  leaving,  as  is  known,  not  more  than  three  fragments,  the 
largest  of  which  numbers  only  about  25500  men,  now  wander 
ing  in  different  directions,  without  magazines  or  a  military 
chest,  and  living  at  free  quarters  upon  their  own  people. 
General  Santa  Anna,  himself  a  fugitive,  is  believed  to  be  on 
the  point  of  resigning  the  Chief  Magistracy  and  escaping  to 
neutral  Guatemala.  A  new  President,  no  doubt,  will  soon  be 
declared,  and  the  Federal  Congress  is  expected  to  re-assemble 
at  Queretaro,  125  miles  north  of  this,  on  the  Zacatecas  road, 
some  time  in  October.  I  have  seen  and  given  safe  conduct 
through  this  city  to  several  of  its  members.  The  government 
will  find  itself  without  resources ;  no  money,  no  arsenals,  no 
magazines,  and  but  little  revenue,  internal  or  external.  Still, 
such  is  the  obstinacy,  or  rather  infatuation,  of  this  people,  that 
it  is  very  doubtful  whether  the  new  authorities  will  dare  sue  for 
peace  on  the  terms  which,  in  the  recent  negociations,  were 
made  known  by  our  minister." 

Immediately  on  the  capture  of  the  city,  and  the  stationing  of 
the  troops  at  different  points,  so  as  to  guard  against  secret 
attacks  and  insure  the  safety  of  the  garrison,  Major  General 


192 

Quitman  was  appointed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  Civil  and 
Military  Governor  of  Mexico,  with  all  the  powers  and  immu 
nities  incident  thereto.  The  city  was  forthwith  placed  under 
martial  law,  and  all  the  inhabitants  thereof,  both  Americana  and 
Mexicans,  were  held  amenable  to  the  rules  and  articles  of  war, 
and  liable  to  be  punished  for  a  disregard  of  the  same,  in  that 
manner  and  to  the  extent  that  the  powers  that  be  might  see 
proper  to  inflict.  The  honor  and  faith  of  the  American  army 
was  also  pledged  for  the  protection  and  safe  guard  of  the  Capi 
tal  itself,  together  with  its  churches  and  religious  worship,  its 
convents  and  monasteries,  and  its  inhabitants  and  property;  in 
consideration  of  which,  a  contribution  of  160,000  dollars  was 
levied  upon  the  resources  of  the  city,  and  to  be  paid  in  four 
weekly  instalments  of  37,500  dollars  each,  beginning  on  Mon 
day,  the  29th  of  September,  and  ending  on  Monday,  the  llth  of 
October,  at  which  time  the  demand  was  to  be  liquidated.  The 
collection  and  payment  of  this  tax  was  made  the  duty  of  the 
Ayuntamiento,  or  corporate  authorities  of  the  city,  and  they 
alone  were  held  responsible  for  the  prompt  and  punctual  pay 
ment  of  the  same.  Twenty  thousand  dollars  of  this  contribu 
tion  was  to  be  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  comforts  and 
necessaries  for  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  various  hospitals, 
while  90,000  dollars  were  to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
blankets  and  shoes  for  gratuitous  distribution  among  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  array,  and  the  remaining  40,000  to  be  reserved 
lor  contingent  expenses,  and  necessary  military  purposes  gen 
erally.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  the  amount  was 
promptly  paid  and  expended  as  above  designated. 

*  On  the  evening  of  the  9th  and  the  morning  of 
the  10th  of  March.  1847,  the  American  army,  consisting  of  about 
14,000  men,  under  the  command  of  Major  General  Scott,  was 
landed  on  the  beach  near  the  island  ot  Sacrificios,  three  miles 
below  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  which  was  immediately  in 
vested  by  all  our  forces,  and  finally  surrendered  after  a  siege  of 
fifteen  days.  The  bloody  and  hard-fought  battle  of  Cerro 
Gordo  followed  in  quick  and  rapid  succession,  in  which  our 
army  was  again  victorious,  although  sustaining  some  heavy  and 
severe  losses.  This  battle  ground  was  left  the  day  it  was  won, 
and  the  conquering  forces  dashed  past  Jalapa,  while  the  eagle 
eye  of  our  brave  old  General  was  bent  upon  the  tall  spires  of 
the  Capital,  and  every  pulse  beat  high  for  its  attainment.  After 
a  brief  and  restless  sojourn  at  Puebla,  the  final  move  was  made, 
and  the  domes  and  steeples  of  the  proud  city  of  the  Aztecs  soon 
burst  upon  the  admiring  gaze  of  the  army  of  the  North.  Con- 
t  reras  falls  before  our  conquering  legions,  and  the  haughty  Va- 


IN  MEXICO.  19o 

lencia  is  a  fugitive  in  the  mountains ;  and  Churubusco's  bloody 
field  is  swept  with  the  whirlwind  of  battle,  till  Anglo-Saxon 
valor  finds  no  enemy  to  strike.     The  armistice  arrests  the  tide 
of  battle,  and  stops  for  a  moment  the  destroying  wheels  of  the 
Juggernaut  of  war;   and  our  army  is  allowed  a   moment  to 
breathe  and  staunch  the  blood  of  the  wounded.     But  the  battle's 
red  glare  soon  breaks  afresh  upon  the  weary  soldier's  dreams  of 
repose ;  the  pent  up  thunders  of  a  nation's  wrath  are  loose 
again,  and  playing  in  lurid  flashes  about  the  foot  of  the  castel 
lated  hill  of  Chapultepec,  while  the  garnished  walls  of  Molino 
del  Rey  feel  the  shock  and  tremble  to  their  deep  foundations. 
The  battle  opens — finger's  batteries   speak  to  the  foe — the 
earthquake  tread  of  contending  armies  shakes  the  trembling 
hills,  a  shout  of  defiance  goes  up,  and  the  field  is  won,  and  the 
works  are  ours.     And  soon  the   strong  towers  and  frowning 
batteries  of  Chapultepec,   the  pride   and  strength  of  Mexico, 
follows  in  the  mournful  and  bloody  wake  of  its  dismantled  pre 
decessor.     A  living  tide  of  shattered  brigades  and  mutilated 
regiments  now  pours  itself  down  the  torn  and  cleft  sides  of  that 
blood-stained  hill,  and  rolls  its  angry  and  broken  waves  far  to 
wards  the  trembling  gates  of  the  city;  the  conquerors  and  the 
vanquished,  the  pursuers  and  the  pursued,  often  becoming  lost 
in  the  confusion,  and  mingling  in  one  indiscriminate  mass. 
The  San  Cosine  is  stormed  and  carried  by  the  intrepid  Worth, 
while  Quitman  is  down  upon  the  Belen  in  a  stream  of  fire, 
hurling  his  battling  legions  like  an  avalanche  against  the  dense 
masses  of  the  foe  with  a  vengeance  that  soon  puts  an  end  to  the 
bloody  conflict,  sweeping  before  him  the  yielding  battalions  of 
Artahuac's  chivalry.     lie  pours  his  impetuous  troops  over  the 
walls  and  along  the  suburbs,  brushes  by  the  frowning  guns  of 
the  citadel,  and  amid  the  deafening  shouts  of  thousands,  plants 
the  proud  stars  of  his  heart's  loved  home  upon  the  classic  walls 
of  Montezuma's  Palace.     And  now,  after  the  short  space  of  six 
months,  this   little   army  has   marched  three   hundred  miles, 
through  the  very  heart  of  the  enemy's  country;   fought  seven 
bloody  and  decisive  battles ;  killed,  wounded  and  captured  riot 
less  than   15,000  of  the  enemy;  taken  50.0  pieces  of  artillery. 
30,000  stands  of  small  arms,  together  with  immense  quantitie 
of  ammunition,  baggage  and  army  stores ;  and  is  now,  on  th 
morning  of  the  14th  of  September,  in  full,  peaceable,  andqui* 
possession  ot  the  powerful  and  opulent  Capital  of  the  Mexica 
Republic. 

But  these  laurels  were  not  won,  nor  those  victories  achieved 
without  proportional  loss  on  our  part.     Three  thousand  of  01 
bravest  troops,  including  near  five  hundred  officers,  now  pre: 
9 


194. 

their  bloody  beds  upon  a  foreign  soil,  while  the  low  murmur  of 
the  evening  wind,  as  it  moans  through  the  tall  grass  above  their 
graves,  sings  the  funeral  dirge  of  the  departed  heroes,  who 
offered  up  their  lives  at  the  shrine  of  their  country's  honor. 
As  our  army  advanced  towards  the  Capital,  and  more  especi 
ally  after  the  fall  of  Chapultepec,  the  most  strenuous  and  un 
paralleled  exertions  were  made  by  the  citizens  to  save  their 
beloved  and  beautiful  city  from  the  contaminating  footfall  of  the 
"ruthless  invader."  Women  and  beautiful  damsels  were  seen 
with  disheveled  hair  and  streaming  eyes,  and  hands  uplifted  to 
heaven,  rushing  like  maniacs  to  and  fro  through  the  streets, 
imploring  their  fathers,  brothers,  husbands,  and  lovers,  to  arm 
themselves  and  join  in  the  last  desperate  struggle  to  save  their 
virtue,  their  honor,  their  altars,  and  their  fire-sides,  from  the 
desolating  march  of  the  "savage  barbarians  of  the  North." 
They,  in  the  enthusiastic  fulness  of  their  souls,  would  frequently 
take  the  rings  from  their  fingers,  or  the  diamond  cross  from 
their  necks,  and  placing  them  upon  those  of  their  friends  whom 
they  were  endeavoring  to  incite  to  go  forth  to  battle ;  and  some 
times  they  would  even  tie  their  shawls  and  rebozas  as  scarfs 
about  their  waists,  in  order  to  keep  constantly  in  their  minds 
the  fair  and  innocent  bosoms  they  were  defending,  which  might 
nerve  their  arms  amid  the  storm  of  battle,  and  enable  them  to 
strike  home  a  surer  and  deadlier  blow  for  the  fair  daughters  of 
their  city,  and  the  untarnished  escutcheon  of  their  country's 
honor.  This  task  being  done,  they  would  rush  to  the  different 
churches  and  spend  days  and  nights  upon  their  knees,  implor 
ing  the  patron  saint  of  Mexico  to  vouchsafe  success  to  the 
Mexican  arms,  and  scatter  defeat  and  dismay  among  the  ranks 
of  her  adversaries.  There  are  many  Spartan  mothers,  and 
sisters,  and  wives  in  Mexico,  who  inspired  the  waning  courage 
of  the  soldiery  with  fresh  life  and  energy,  and  armed  and  sent 
forth  thousands  of  the  first  classes — the  elite  of  the  republic — 
to  meet  Scott  at  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  strike  another  blow 
for  the  honor  of  the  Mexican  flag.  Neither  were  the  priests, 
the  gowned  dignitaries  of  the  church,  idle  spectators  amid  the 
thrilling  and  momentous  events  that  were  passing  around ;  they, 
too,  had  paramount  interests  at  stake,  and  the  sacred  robe,  the 
huge  ihovel  hat,  and  the  holy  cross,  were  every  where  seen 
mingling  in  the  battle's  bloody  din,  encouraging  those  around  to 
fight  for  the  sacred  emblems  of  their  holy  religion,  and  invoking 
the  blessings  of  all  the  saints  in  the  calander,  and  especially  the 
"Virgin  of  Guadaloupe,  on  the  efforts  they  were  making  to 
guard  her  sacred  temple  from  the  desecrating  touch  of  the  infidel 
invader. 


IN  MEXICO.  195 

But  all  the  patron  saints  of  Mexico  were  found  inadequate  to 
save  the  doomed  and  beleaguered  city.  The  sons  of  the  fathers 
of  '76  were  there  knocking  at  its  gates,  and  clamoring  for  en 
trance,  and  they  were  invincible,  and  knew  nothing  but  to  ac 
complish  whatever  they  might  undertake.  The  quick  and  fiery 
blood  of  the  conquerors  of  Lundy's  Lane,  CMppewa,  Cowpens, 
and  King's  Mountain,  was  coursing  through  their  veins,  and 
heated  by  twelve  hours  hard  fighting;  the  tempting  prize  was 
now  in  full  view,  and  they  were  making  the  last  death-struggle 
to  grasp  it. 

The  blood  of  the  priesthood  flowed  in  mingling  streams  with 
that  of  the  common  soldiery,  and  several  of  that  holy  order 
were  found  among  the  slain,  with  the  gown  and  cross  stained 
with  the  warrior's  blood,  who  had  left  the  sacred  alters  of  their 
holy  religion  to  join  the  crusade  against  the  "infidel  invader," 
and  assist  in  striking  another  blow  for  their  civil  and  religious 
rights.  And  even  women,  beautiful  and  innocent,  in  all  their 
native  loveliness,  bared  their  tender  bosoms  to  the  raging  storm 
of  battle,  and  fought  like  heroes  beside  their  husbands,  and 
fathers,  and  brothers;  some  disguised  in  men's  attire,  and 
dressed  as  common  soldiers,  and  some  in  their  own  ordinary 
costume.  A  mother  and  her  child  were  both  found  dead  near 
one  of  the  batteries ;  the  mother  had  followed  her  husband  to 
battle,  and  had  fallen,  and  the  child  had  followed  the  mother  and 
shared  the  same  fate.  Such  examples  of  devoted  and  self- 
sacrificing  patriotism  among  the  fair  and  lovely  daughters  of 
their  city,  must  have  exerted  a  powerful  and  controlling  influ 
ence  upon  the  great  mass  of  the  citizens  generally,  and  nerved 
their  arms  and  inspired  their  hearts  to  deeds  of  nobler  daring. 

A  large  body  of  men,  amounting  to  several  thousand,  formed 
from  the  wealthy  and  aristocratic  classes,  organized  themselves 
into  a  military  corps,  and  armed  and  equipped  in  the  most  gor 
geous  and  costly  manner,  went  forth  in  the  last  extremity  to 
meet  the  enemy  at  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  assist  in  striking  a 
last  and  powerful  blow  for  their  families  and  homes.  They 
called  themselves  the  "Polka  Guards,"  and  made  a  grand  and 
martial  appearance  as  they  moved  in  solid  column  through  the 
streets,  in  their  rich  and  gaudy  uniforms,  with  martial  music, 
colors  flying,  and  their  burnished  armor  glittering  in  the  sun. 
This  corps  was  composed  of  the  wealthy  and  professional  por 
tion  of  the  citizens — the  rich  haciendero  or  planter,  the  lawyer, 
the  doctor,  and  the  merchant — many  ot  whom  had  probably 
never  been  in  ranks  before,  and  who,  like  Napoleon's  Imperial 
Guard,  were  never  called  into  action  only  on  the  most  extraordi 
nary  occasions,  and  the  present  was  deemed  a  crisis  of  sufficient 


196  SCOTT'S 

importance  to  rally  them  to  a  man,  and  justify  the  extremity  of 
a  Waterloo  charge.  But  with  all  their  rich  array  of  gaudy 
trappings,  "the  pornp  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war,"  com 
bined  with  the  prompt  and  reckless  intrepidity  with  which  they 
rushed  to  the  conflict,  yet  they  were  unable  to  strike  terror  into 
the  ranks  of  our  advancing  columns,  who  rained  such  a  tempest 
of  leaden  hail  among  their  fast  thinning  ranks  as  caused  them  to 
slacken  their  onward  pace,  then  halt,  and  falter,  and  finally  fled 
in  the  utmost  disorder  and  confusion,  leaving  the  ground  cover 
ed  with  their  dead. 

The  following  brief  but  rather  unique  sketch  of  the  military 
operations  in  the  Valley  is  from  the  pen  of  an  intelligent  Mexi 
can,  and  mny  not  prove  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader: — 
"The  terrible  noise  of  a  16-pounder  gun,  at  2  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  19th  of  August,  and  at  the  same  time  the  call  to 
arms  played  by  all  the  bands  of  the  army  that  had  re-united  in 
Mexico,  announced  to  us  that  the  enemy  had  commenced  their 
march  for  this  Capital,  with  all  their  trains  of  war.  No  one 
can  conceive  the  desire  we  felt  to  go  forth  to  the  field  of  battle ; 
the  middle  and  poorer  classes  ran  to  the  barracks  of  the  soldiers 
to  present  themselves  for  the  defence  of  their  country.  The 
larger  portion  of  the  rich  and  aristocratic  classes  did  no  more 
than  attend  to  their  own  interests  and  prepare  for  their  journey 
to  whatever  place  cowardice  suggested.  The  coaches  went  out 
in  every  direction,  the  wagons  and  carts  carrying  furniture  and 
other  moveables;  and  finally  fright  completely  overaxyed  this 
class,  which  had  always  desired  a  foreign  prince.  General  D. 
Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna  had  been  constituted  Dictator, 
(per  onian  secula,)  the  liberty  of  the  press  was  at  an  end,  and 
there  was  no  law  but  his  will;  but  it  was  said  this  was  for  the 
good  of  the  country.  The  first  chief  of  the  soldiery  was  the 
second  Sultan.  His  edicts  and  his  tricks  were  continual;  the 
number  of  his  bailiffs  who  walked  the  streets  was  greater  than 
that  of  peaceful  men  abroad  to  find  a  bit  of  bread  for  their 
children,  who,  hungry  and  crying,  begged  the  means  of  preserv 
ing  life.  The  whole  southern  side  of  the  city,  from  the  old  Pe- 
non  to  the  Garita  of  San  Cosme,  was  found  strongly  fortified :  the 
parapets,  trenches  and  pits,  found  even  within  the  limits  of  the 
city,  presented  an  imposing  aspect.  This  line  of  fortifications, 
extending  at  least  five  leagues,  was,  without  doubt,  intended  to 
be  sufficient  to  resist  an  army  of  fifty  thousand  men.  On  the 
following  day,  (20th  August,)  ail  the  regular  troops  went  out, 
and  the  following  National  Guards,  viz:  Mina,  Victoria,  Hi 
dalgo,  Independence,  Union,  iJravos,  &c.  The  Penon  road 
was  fortified  and  appeared  impregnable ;  the  enthusiasm  was 


IN  MEXICO.  197 

augmented  every  day;  the  public  spirit  was  reanimated;  and  it 
appeared  as  if  union  had  been  effected.  The  Mexican  army 
may  be  estimated  at  thirty  thousand,  inbluding  the  National 
Guards.  The  force  of  the  enemy  was  as  follows :  fourteen 
thousand  soldiers,  four  or  five  thousand  men  attached  to  the 
army,  and  a  little  more  than  two  hundred  Poblanos,  mounted  as 
their  auxiliaries,  and  wearing  a  red  badge  on  their  hats,  per 
haps  to  enable  their  friends  to  distinguish  them  at  a  distance. 
The  enemy  entered  the  valley  of  Mexico,  and  came  in  one 
body  towards  the  fortifications  of  Penon,  but  when  within  a 
quarter  of  a  league,  left  this  place  and  went  to  the  hills  of 
Coatreras.  The  small  limits  of  this  publication  will  not  permit 
us  to  give  the  minute  details  of  their  movements ;  but  without 
doubt  we  shall  inform  our  readers  of  this  extraordinary  affair, 
which,  to  the  Republic,  is  a  matter  of  life  or  death.  18th  day 
of  the  month — General  Valencia  having  declared  eternal  dis 
regard  of  all  the  orders  of  General  Santa  Anna,  acted  solely 
according  to  his  own  judgment  and  will.  At  half-past  11,  a.  m., 
the  enemy  made  a  reconnoisance  of  the  position  occupied  by 
our  force  in  Padierna,  (?)  with  a  thousand  infantry,  two  hundred 
cavalry,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  They  had  a  little  skirmish 
ing  with  the  guerrillas  and  retired  to  Pena  Pobre.  Gen.  

communicated  this  circumstance  to  General  Santa  Anna,  who 
immediately  sent  to  General  Valencia  the  following  order,  viz: 
4  At  the  dawn  of  day  to-morrow,  you  will  march  the  troops  un 
der  your  command  and  take  a  permanent  position  at  the  village 
of  Coyoacan,  sending  forward  your  artillery  to  the  fortification 
of  Churubusco.' 

"  General  Valencia  made  some  excuses  in  reply,  and  did  not 
obey.  19/7?.  day  of  the  month — In  the  morning  the  enemy  pre 
pared  to  attack  General  Valencia,  and  the  result  proved  the  fol 
lowing  arrogance  in  that  officer.  He  says,  in  an  official  com- 
munication;  'After  a  hard  combat  with  the  Anglo-American 
force,  I  have  the  high  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  have  put  to 
shameful  flight,  with  the  valiant  troops  I  have  the  honor  to  com 
mand,  all  the  Anglo-American  forces,  who,  united,  have  invest 
ed  my  position  and  attacked  me  in  every  possible  manner,  from 
12  o'clock  at  noon  until  7  o'clock  at  night.5  Intoxicated  with 
this  triumph,  he  commenced  giving  a  multitude  of  promotions. 
At  a  quarter-past  one  o'clock  at  night,  D.  Jose  Maria  Ramiro 
verbally  gave  him  the  order  of  the  President,  that  he  should 
retire,  as  he  could  do  the  same  night;  because  the  President 
could  not  assist  him  with  the  six  thousand  men  that  he  had,  on 
account  of  the  deep  ravines  that  stretched  themselves  in  his 
front." 

9* 


19$ 

The  two  hundred  mounted  Poblanos  with  red  badges  on  their 
hats,  which  the  Mexican  writer  speaks  of  in  the  preceding  arti 
cle,  were  a  company  of  guerrillas,  or  Mexican  soldiers,  denomi 
nated  "The'Spy  Company,"  and  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
Dominquez,  a  brave  and  efficient  officer,  and  also  himself  a 
native  Mexican.  This  was  indeed  a  splendid  company,  well 
uniformed,  mounted  and  equipped.  It  was  organized  in  Puebla 
shortly  after  the  arrival  of  our  army  at  that  place,  and  having 
been  ill-treated  by  the  Mexican  government,  and  not  wishing  to 
be  disbanded,  it  concluded  to  offer  its  services  to  General 
Scott,  who  thought  proper  to  accept  them  under  the  circum 
stances  ;  and  from  that  time  until  the  end  of  the  war,  they  did 
effective  service,  both  in  the  field  and  as  spies  and  scouts. 
They  fought  well,  were  active  and  brave,  and  always  came  off 
victorious  in  the  various  skirmishes  they  had  with  the  guerrillas 
under  Rea,  Terrejon,  and  others.  They  were  mounted  on 
handsome  and  spirited  mustangs,  armed  with  swords,  lances 
and  escopets,  and  wore  bands  of  red  about  their  hats,  as  badges 
of  distinction  and  recognition.  I  saw  this  company  after  peace 
was  made,  at  Encerro,  on  their  way  towards  the  coast.  They 
embarked  with  our  troops  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  landed  at  New 
Orleans,  from  whence  they  contemplate  proceeding  to  Yucatan, 
for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  whites  against  the  Indians ;  as 
they  would  most  evidently  have  lost  their  heads  had  they  been 
found  in  their  native  country  after  the  termination  of  the  war. 
They  were  paid  for  their  services  the  sum  of  25  dollars  per 
month  by  .the  United  States  government,  and  furnished  with 
arms,  food,  and  clothing,  and  guarantied  a  safe  passage  to  the 
United  Slate.s,  or  some  neutral  territory,  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
•  The  following  extract  from  the  "American  Star,"  a  paper 
published  in  the  city  of  Mexico  during  its  occupation  by  our 
army,  may  perhaps  be  considered  in  point : 

"When  the  mail  reached  Nopalucan,  about  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  just  as  the  advanced  guard  of  four  men  entered 
the  plaza,  the  well  known  Mexican  hail  of  "  Quicn  Vive'7  was 
heard  from  a  meson,  and  before  any  answer  could  be  made,  bang, 
bang!  went  two  escopets.  The  guard  immediately  fell  back  to 
the  wagon,  ten  men  were  placed  around  it  as  a  guard,  and  the 
remainder,  some  fifteen  or  sixteen,  started  off  to  open  the  way. 
They  advanced  carefully  to  the  plaza,  and  just  as  they  got  oppo 
site  the  meson,  a  heavy  volley  was  poured  upon  them.  Lieut. 
Steed  gave  the  order  to  charge,  and  in  half  a  minute  they  had 
reached  the  house  and  driven  the  party  inside.  The  doors  were 
instantly  closed,  so  that  there  was  no  chance  of  getting  to  them. 
The  Lieutenant  called  for  an  axe  from  the  wagon,  and  whilst  it 


IN  MEXICO.  199 

was  being  brought  a  voice  cried  out  in  tolerable  English,  in 
quiring  if  we  were  Yankees.  The  answer  was,  'you'll  soon 
lind  that  out.'  At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  the  fat 
face  of  Dominquez  showed  itself-  He  was  quartered  there  for 
the  night,  and  his  sentinels  not  expecting  Americans  at  that 
hour,  had  fired  upon  our  party.  A  mutual  understanding  was 
soon  effected,  and  we  parted — the  Colonel  overjoyed  when  he 
ascertained  that  none  of  us  had  been  hurt." 

Colonel  Dominquez  was  a  brave  man  and  a  good  officer,  and 
in  every  instance  proved  faithful  to  his  trust,  and  never  showed 
the  least  disposition  to  betray  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
General  Scott.  During  the  operations  of  our  army  in  the  valley, 
Santa  Anna  made  him  an  offer,  through  a  confidential  friend,  of 
the  office  of  General  of  Division,  if  he  would  consent  to  blow 
up  the  American  magazine,  and  flee  for  protection  to  the  shel 
tering  wings  of  the  eagles  of  Anahuac.  But  this  low  and 
dastardly  proposition  he  indignantly  refused,  and  forthwith  made 
known  to  the  American  commander  the  brilliant  offer  that 
Santa  Anna  had  made  him,  but  which  he  had  firmness  and  de 
cision  of  character  enough  promptly  to  refuse.  His  faith  was 
not  plighted  to  the  Mexican  army  or  government,  and,  in  all 
probability,  never  was,  as  his'  manner  of  life  had  always  array 
ed  him  against  the  recognised  authorities  of  both  the  civil  and 
military  powers  of  the  Republic.  Consequently  he  could  not 
be  considered  as  compromising  his  principles  of  patriotism,  or 
justly  incurring  the  opprobrious  epithet  of  traitor  to  his  country, 
merely  because  he  was  acting  in  concert  with  the  enemies  of 
Mexico. 

Patriotism  in  that  country  is  a  word  that  will  admit  of  a  very 
latitudinariari  construction,  and  not  unfrequently  means  that 
principle  which  induces  a  man  to  join  the  most  popu'arand  suc 
cessful  leader,  and  fight  on  the  strongest  side,  no  odds  whether 
it  be  for  or  against  his  country.  It  is  a  tolerably  well  authen 
ticated  fact,  that  the  Mexican  soldier  is  most  generally  let  out 
to  the  highest  bidder,  independent  of  every  other  consideration, 
and  he  who  pays  the  highest  price  can  array  the  largest  number 
of  troops  under  his  flag,  without  being  troubled  with  questions 
as  to  what  he  is  going  to  fight  for,  or  who  he  is  going  to  fight 
against. 


200  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  great  many  things  have  been  said  against  the  great  Mexi 
can  chieftain,  Santa  Anna;  some  have  supposed  him  to  be  des 
titute  of  that  degree  of  courage  which  is  necessary  to  constitute 
a  distinguished  and  successful  military  leader,  while  others  have 
supposed  him  to  be  perfectly  destitute  of  all  political  honesty,  a 
weather  cock,  standing  to  the  popular  breeze,  and  seeking  the 
popular  tide,  no  odds  which  way  the  current  might  beat,  so  that 
it  might  bear  him  on  to  the  post  of  place  and  favor;  willing  to 
sacrifice  the  dearest  and  most  vital  interests  of  his  country  at 
the  shrine  of  personal  ambition.  I  do  not  feel  authorized,  from 
the  evidence  in  the  case,  either  oral  or  written,  to  acquit  him 
entirely,  or  to  enter  up  judgment  against  him  on  all  the  above 
charges.  I  am  willing  that  the  recorded  acts  of  both  his  civil 
and  military  career  shall  bear  testimony,  and  that  thereby  he 
shall  stand  condemned  or  acquitted  at  the  bar  of  an  impartial 
public  opinion.  But  notwithstanding  the  different  opinions 
which  may  be  entertained  by  different  individuals,  respecting 
the  talents,  courage  and  honesty  of  this  great  man,  whose  life 
has  been  marked  by  as  many  striking  and  important  events  as 
any  man  of  his  age,  yet  we  must  all,  both  friends  and  foes,  al 
low  him  credit  for,  at  least,  a  degree  of  energy  and  persever 
ance,  which  often  appears  to  have  been  prompted  by  something 
that  wore  the  garb  and  bore  the  semblance  of  patriotism.  He 
has  stood  long  and  faithfully  by  the  waning  interests  of  his 
country,  never  deserting  her,  even  in  misfortune's  darkest  hour, 
while  he  could  rally  a  force  to  defend  her  rights.  It  is  well 
known  that,  from  the  lifting  of  the  curtain  at  Palo  Alto,  and  the 
commencement  of  the  first  act  in  the  great  military  drama  was 
announced  by  the  thunder  of  the  guns  at  Fort  Brown,  till  the 
American  flag  was  unfurled  and  its  golden  stars  glittered  in  the 
firmament,  high  above  the  proud  seat  of  the  Spanish  Viceroys, 
that  the  Mexican  forces  never  gained  a  victory,  or  even  a  tem 
porary  advantage  over  the  invading  foe ;  but  defeat  followed 
defeat  in  every  instance  where  an  enemy  was  met.  Thus  with 
the  resources  of  the  nation  completely  exhausted,  and  her  ener 
gies  broken  down,  and  her  army  half  fed,  half  clothed,  dispir 
ited,  and  scattered  in  broken  and  disorganized  fragments  over 
the  country;  at  this  low  ebb  in  the  state  of  national  affairs, 
Santa  A/ina,  with  a  permit  in  his  pocket,  written  in  the  White 
House  at  Washington,  passes  the  blockading  squadron  of  the 
United  States  and  enters  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz.  He  finds  his 


IN  MEXICO.  201 

country  in  a  deplorable  condition ;  her  ports  blockaded,  and  her 
territory  invaded  by  a  powerful  and  warlike  nation,  whose  mili 
tary  resources  were  almost  inexhaustible,  with  many  of  her 
principal  towns  and  cities  already  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 
But  notwithstanding  the  gloomy  aspect  of  affairs,  and  the  dark 
and  angry  clouds  that  lowered  in  the  sky  of  his  country's  hopes, 
he  yields  not  to  despondency  and  despair,  but  instantly  sets  about 
collecting  an  army  from  the  shattered  fragments  that  were  scat- 
tered  over  the  country,  with  which  to  strike  another  blow  for 
the  honor  and  safety  of  the  Republic.  By  his  active  and  pow 
erful  influence,  new  life  and  vigor  are  infused  into  the  pulseless 
energies  of  the  nation,  and  her  flagging  hopes  begin  to  revive, 
and  he  is  enabled,  in  a  short  time,  to  concentrate  20,000  men  at 
San  Luis  Potosi,  from  whence,  after  a  hasty  organization,  and 
a  hurried  outfit,  he  marches  against  General  Taylor  at  Agua 
Nueva,  which  is  followed  by  the  bloody  and  decisive,  but,  to 
him,  disastrous  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  in  which  the  Mexican 
army  retreated  with  great  loss;  and  Santa  Anna,  with  the  dis 
organized  remnant  of  his  late  numerous  and  powerful  arrny, 
was  compelled  to  fall  back  in  disorder  upon  San  Luis.  Soon 
after  which,  the  fall  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  Castle,  and  their  oc 
cupation  by  the  troops  of  the  American  army,  reached  his  ears, 
following  rapidly  in  the  sad  train  of  events.  But  nothing  in 
timidated  by  recent  defeats  and  crowding  misfortunes,  he  im 
mediately  contemplates  another  stand,  and  instantly  sets  about 
collecting  an  army  from  the  scattered  remnants  of  his  former 
forces,  and  puts  them  in  motion  for  the  National  Bridge,  a  dis 
tance  of  more  than  800  miles  from  his  present  position,  at  which 
point,  by  a  series  of  rapid  forced  marches,  he  hopes  to  be  able 
to  meet  and  cut  off'  the  advance  of  the  American  army  towards 
the  city.  And  a  position  could  not  have  been  found  on  the 
whole  route  from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  Capital  which  would  have 
more  favored  the  prospects  of  a  successful  defence,  or  where  a 
small  body  of  men  could  have  more  effectually  resisted  almost 
any  odds  that  might  have  been  brought  against  them.  It  is 
true  that  Santa  Anna  did  not  succeed  in  reaching  and  fortifying 
the  National  Bridge,  as  was  originally  his  intention,  being  an 
ticipated  only  a  few  hours  by  General  Twiggs,  who  was  fortu 
nate  enough  to  reach  the  bridge  first,  which  compelled  the  Mex 
ican  forces  to  fall  back  a  few  miles  upon  a  very  strong  position 
called  "  Cerro  Gordo,"  which  was  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  well 
adapted  to  Santa  Anna's  purpose,  as  the  originally  intended 
point  at  the  National  Bridge.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista  was  fought  on  the  23d  of  February,  and 
by  the  middle  of  April,  Santa  Anna  was  at  Cerro  Gordo,  with 


202  SCOTT'S 

an  army  of  16,000  men,  still  hugging  the  delusive  phantom,  and 
clinging  to  the  frail  hope,  the  last  floating  plank  of  his  country's 
wreck,  that  victory  might  yet  declare  for  the  Mexican  standard, 
and  perch  in  triumph  upon  the  proud  banners  of  Anahuac. 
Here  again,  after  a  bloody  and  obstinate  conflict,  he  had  to 
submit  to  the  mortification  of  seeing  his  army  a  second  time 
cut  to  pieces  and  completely  routed,  while  he  himself,  after  nar 
rowly  escaping  being  captured,  was  driven  from  the  field  with 
scarcely  men  enough  to  cover  his  retreat.  He  is  hotly  pursued 
through  Jalapa;  stops  a  moment  to  breathe  at  neutral  Puebla, 
and  then  dashes  on  to  the  Capital,  with  only  a  few  hundred  fol 
lowers  who  still  clung  to  his  person  and  hovered  around  him  in 
the  hour  of  his  adversity  as  a  kind  of  body  guard. 

And  now,  I  ask,  where  is  the  man  that  would  not  have  sunk 
beneath  the  rapidly  accumulating  weight  of  misfortunes  which 
seemed  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  this  eccentric  but  notable  per 
sonage?  His  last  forlorn  hope,  in  the  way  of  an  army,  was 
defeated  and  scattered — a  large  portion  of  the  citizens  of  the 
Capital  was  clamoring  for  non-resistance — the  energies  of  the 
nation  completely  paralized — the  public  treasury  utterly  ex 
hausted — and  a  victorious  army,  flushed  with  recent  victory, 
was  rapidly  advancing  upon  his  rear  and  swallowing  up  every 
thing  in  its  wake.  Arista  and  Ampudia  had  been  defeated  on 
the  Rio  Grande,  at  every  point  between  Point  Isabel  and  Mon 
terey — Vera  Cruz  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy — the 
redoubtable  Castle  which  cost  forty  millions  of  dollars,  and 
which  has  been  styled  "the  Queen  of  the  Seas  and  the  bulwark 
of  Mexico,"  was  now  in  peaceable  possession  of  the  army  of 
the  North,  and  he  himself — Mexico  personified — had  been  twice 
signally  defeated  in  as  many  pitched  battles,  and  opposed  by 
numbers  greatly  inferior  to  his  own  in  every  instance.  And 
now  the  American  army,  confident,  of  final  success,  and  loaded 
with  the  spoils  of  victory,  are  on  full  stretch  for  the  Capital, 
with  not  a  gun,  or  a  fortification,  to  oppose  their  progress  to  the 
very  gates  of  the  city.  And  it  is  a  fact  well  authenticated,  (hat 
up  to  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  General  Worth  with  the  advance 
of  our  army  at  the  city  of  Puebla,  there  was  nothing  like  a 
regular  organized  army  at  the  city  of  Mexico,  nor  a  fortification 
erected  for  its  defence,  nor  a  breast  work  thrown  up,  nor  a  gun 
mounted.  I  mean,  of  course,  that  none  of  these  preparations 
were  made  with  particular  reference  to  the  approach  of  Gen 
eral  Scott's  army,  for  we  all  know  that  Mexico  is  a  fortified 
city,  and  is  always  protected  by  forts  and  castles,  and  works  of 
military  defence. 

And  had  it  not  been  for  that  unfortunate  delay  at  Puebla, 


IN  MEXICO.  203 

which  was  no  doubt  the  fault  of  the  War  Department  and  its 
friends  and  advisers,  General  Scott,  with  his  whole  army,  might 
have  entered  the  Capital  in  less  than  ten  days  after  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  without  the  firing  of  a  gun.  And  here  follows 
one  of  the  most  striking  exemplifications  of  Santa  Anna's  energy 
and  perseverance,  together  with  the  almost  unbounded  control 
which  he  exercised  over  the  minds  and  wills  of  the  Mexican 
people,  which  has  any  where  appeared  upon  the  record  of  his 
public  history.  There  was  a  large  and  influential  party  in  the 
city  who  were  opposed  to  further  resistance  and  refused  to  aid 
in  preparing  for  its  defense,  while  the  army  was  scattered  in 
broken  fragments  all  over  the  Republic,  wandering  about  and 
living  by  plunder,  without  arms,  artillery  or  ammunition,  or  a 
recognised  leader  to  direct  or  control  their  movements.  In  the 
midst  of  such  a  state  of  things  as  this,  without  the  active  and 
efficient  co-operation  of  any  other  great  leader,  and  while  our 
army  was  in  five  days  march  of  the  gates  of  the  city,  Santa 
Anna,  for  the  first  time,  commences  collecting  another  army 
from  the  inefficient  and  chaotic  masses  of  material  which  he 
could  reach.  Fortifications  rise  up,  like  Jona's  guard,  in  a 
night,  and  the  troops  from  all  parts  of  the  country  flock  by 
thousands  to  his  standard,  on  which  is  written  nihil  desperan- 
dum,  there  is  no  such  word  as  fail.  And  by  the  18th  of  August, 
when  the  first  gun  was  fired,  which  announced  that  active  ope- 
rations  had  commenced  in  the  Valley,  he  had  collected,  officer 
ed,  and  organized  an  army  of  32,000  men,  and  fortified  every 
approach  to  the  city  in  the  strongest  possible  manner;  and  I 
will  venture  the  assertion  that  no  man,  in  or  out  of  Mexico, 
could  have  collected,  in  so  short  a  time,  and  held  together,  that 
number  of  Mexican  troops,  almost  without  pay  or  rations,  and 
then  have  made  a  better  defence,  with  the  material  which  he 
had  to  operate  with,  than  he  did  under  the  circumstances. 

But  with  all  his  influence,  skill  and  energy,  he  was  doomed  to 
suffer  another  and  a  final  defeat ;  and  after  being  driven  from 
the  city,  the  star  of  his  empire  seemed  to  wane,  and  he  never 
was  able  to  collect  a  sufficient  force  to  make  a  prominent  stand 
afterwards.  It  is  true  he  marched  towards  Puebia  with  8,000 
men,  and  demanded  of  Colonel  Childs  the  surrender  of  the  gar 
rison,  which  was  refused,  and  after  some  pretty  severe  skirmish 
ing,  he  withdrew  his  forces,  and  moved  to  intercept  General 
Lane,  who  was  then  on  the  march  from  Vera  Cruz  with  5,000 
troops  to  relieve  the  garrison  at  Puebia.  The  two  armies  met 
at  the  tow^n  of  Huamantla  on  the  9th  of  October,  and  after  a 
short  but  bloody  contest,  the  forces  of  Santa  Anna  were  defeated 
and  driven  from  the  field  with  great  loss,  soon  after  which  ho 


204 

left  the  country,  and  is  now,  for  the  third  time,  a  voluntary  exile 
in  a  foreign  land.  The  lite  and  character  of  this  great,  but 
unfortunate  man,  have  occupied  such  a  prominent  position  in 
both  the  civil  and  military  history  of  Mexico  for  the  last  twenty- 
five  years,  as  to  attract  in  some  degree  the  attention  of  the 
civilized  world ;  and  it  is  almost  impossible  to  write  or  speak  to 
any  considerable  extent  of  the  history  of  the  country  during 
that  period,  without  the  frequent  mention  of  his  name.  Gen. 
Thompson,  in  his  "Recollections  of  Mexico,"  says  "that  he 
regards  him  as,  more  than  any  other  man,  the  author  and  fin 
isher  of  the  last  successful  struggle  of  Mexico  for  independence 
and  a  republican  form  of  government."  Indeed  his  very  feel 
ings  seem  always  to  have  leaned  towards  republicanism,  while 
an  early  and  deep  grounded  antipathy  to  every  thing  like  mo- 
narchial  principles  seems  to  have  woven  itself  about  every  fibre 
of  his  heart  and  affections,  and  which  has  marked  and  influ 
enced  his  life  and  conduct  throughout  his  whole  public  career. 
The  first  move  towards  disputing  the  power  of  the  mother  coun 
try,  and  throwing  off  the  yoke' of  Old  Spain,  was  made  by  Don 
Miguel  Hidalgo,  who,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1810,  raised 
the  republican  standard  upon  the  walls  of  Guanajuato,  and  com 
menced  the  crusade  for  independence.  For  a  long  time  the 
Mexicans  had  been  very  much  oppressed  by  their  tyrannical 
and  unfeeling  task  masters,  while  every  office  of  honor,  profit, 
and  trust,  from  the  earliest  history  ol  their  colonial  servitude, 
had  invariably  been  filled  by  Spanish  natives — hot  house 
sprigs  of  tyranny  and  oppression,  sent  over  to  fill  offices,  collect 
gold,  and  drain  the  financial  resources  of  the  colony,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  enriching  the  crowned  heads  of  Spain,  and  filling  the 
bloated  coffers  of  the  mother  country.  The  country  was  ripe 
for  rebellion  and  revolt;  the  weight  of  the  oppressor's  hand  had 
been  felt  in  all  its  galling  bitterness  and  degradation,  and  the 
great  mass  of  the  citizens  were  ready  tor  any  insurrectionary 
measure,  while  the  latent  sparks  of  revolution  were  fast  kind 
ling  into  a  flame.  All  that  the  people  wanted  was  some  bold  and 
daring  leader,  who  could  give  tone  to  public  sentiment,  rouse 
the  dormant  energies  of  the  nation,  and  direct  and  control  an 
efficient  and  organized  movement,  against  the  hireling  and  mer 
cenary  instruments  of  Spanish  oppression.  Such  a  leader  as 
this  they  found  in  the  person  of  the  humble  and  obscure  parish 
priest  of  Dolores,  and  thousands  flocked  to  his  standard,  and 
delegated  a  shout  to  swell  the  earthquake  tones  of  the  cry  for 
liberty.  . 

He  raised  the  standard  of  revolt,  and  commenced  his  career 
with  not  more  than  a  dozen  adherents ;  but  a  few  brilliant  and 


IN  MEXICO.  205 

successful  strokes  of  generalship  brought  the  disaffected  popu 
lation  in  crowds  to  join  his  array.  His  daily  increasing  num 
bers  soon  enabled  him  to  march  against  and  subdue  several  of 
the  larger  towns  and  cities.  The  populous  and  wealthy  city 
of  Guanajuata  fell  into  the  hands  of  this  infuriated  and  victori 
ous  rabble,  before  the  gates  of  which  Hidalgo,  with  a  promis 
cuous  mass  of  twenty  thousand  undisciplined,  half-armed  Indi 
ans,  publicly  proclaimed  the  independence  of  Mexico,  securing 
to  himself  the  proud  title  of  "  Captain-General  of  America." 
He  was  soon  joined  by  Morales,  who  was  also  a  priest,  but 
who  possessed  the  elements  of  a  bold  and  adventurous  Captain, 
and  after  a  series  of  splendid  victories,  which  increased  his 
rabble  army  to  more  than  fifty  thousand  men,  he  marched 
against  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  met  and  defeated  the  Spanish 
forces  under  Truxillo  and  Augustin  Iturbide,  at  the  pass  of  Las 
Cruces. 

Inspired  with  confidence,  and  flushed  with  recent  victory, 
Hidalgo  pushed  on  his  conquering  legions  to  the  very  gates 
of  the  city,  when  becoming  appalled  by  the  number,  and 
superior  arms  and  discipline  of  those  who  opposed  him,  he 
suddenly  retreated  with  his  panic-stricken  hosts,  knowing  as  he 
did  that  another  such  victory  as  that  of  Las  Cruces  would 
utterly  ruin  his  army  and  scatter  his  undisciplined  forces  in 
every  direction.  He  was  again  met  on  the  7th  of  November 
by  General  Calleja,  on  the  plains  of  Aculco,  and  was  defeated 
and  routed  with  the  loss  often  thousand  Indians,  who  were  left 
dead  upon  the  field ;  and  which  was  shortly  followed  by  another 
bloody  battle,  which  took  place  on  the  17th  of  January,  and 
resulted  in  the  total  defeat  and  great  slaughter  of  the  forces 
under  Hidalgo,  at  the  bridge  of  Calderon,  by  the  same  General 
that  had  so  lately  driven  him  in  kismay  from  the  field  of  Aculco. 
This  proved  a  death  blow  to  the  hopes  of  Hidalgo,  and  he  soon 
retreated  with  only  about  four  thousand  followers  towards  Sal- 
tillo ;  but  he  was  never  able  to  make  another  stand,  and  soon 
after,  investing  General  Rayon  with  the  chief  command  of  the 
insurgent  army,  he  left  for  the  United  States,  accompanied  by 
General  Allende  and  other  officers  and  friends,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  arms,  ammunition,  &c.,  and  raising  a  sufficient 
number  of  recruits  to  enable  him  to  recommence  hostilities 
and  prosecute  the  war  with  renewed  life  and  energy  against  the 
prevailing  powers  of  the  mother  country.  But  in  this  he  was 
unsuccessful,  and  was  betrayed  on  the  frontiers  of  Texas  by 
one  of  his  own  party,  taken  prisoner  and  carried  back  in  chains 
to  Chihuahua,  where  he  was  tried,  together  with  thirty  of  his 
officers,  and  condemned  and  executed.  Kendall,  in  his  "  Santa 


206 

Fe  Expedition,"  says  that  he  was  confined  in  the  same  room 
where  Hidalgo  and  his  companions  wore  their  chains,  imme 
diately  preceding  their  execution,  and  that  the  very  spot  where 
they  fell  was  pointed  out  to  him. 

Thus  fell  Hidalgo,  and  thus  ended  the  first  abortive  attempt 
towards  Mexican  independence,  in  which  the  republican  army 
was  cut  to  pieces  and  scattered,  and  its  leader  publicly  executed 
in  less  than  six  months  after  he  had  first  raised  the  standard  of 
revolt.  Although  the  insurrectionary  spirit  seemed  crushed  for 
the  time,  yet  the  ball  of  revolution  had  been  put  in  motion,  and 
it  was  destined  to  roll  on,  until  the  dominant  power  of  Spain 
should  be  crushed  forever.  Morelos  snatched  the  falling  stand 
ard  of  human  liberty  as  it  fell  from  the  palsied  hand  of  the 
Martyr  Hidalgo,  and  waving  it  on  high,  attempted  to  rally  the 
populace  to  the  defence  of  their  rights,  but  he  found  the  priestly 
opposition  too  strong  for  him,  and  of  course  his  plans  failed  of 
success,  and  defeat  a  second  time  attended  the  patriotic  efforts 
of  the  friends  of  humanity  and  equal  rights. 

But  the  spark  that  still  slumbered  in  the  smouldering  embers 
was  not  totally  extinct,  and  the  struggle  still  went  on,  with 
prospects  sometimes  bright,  but  more  often  dark  and  gloomy, 
until  the  year  1821,  when  General  Iturbide,  a  Spanish  officer 
of  some  distinction,  who  commanded  the  loyal  army  which  was 
intended  to  operate  against  the  insurgents,  and  blot  out  forever 
the  last  remaining  traces  of  revolution,  proved  a  traitor  to  his 
cause,  and  at  once  espoused  the  side  of  the  patriots,  together 
with  his  whole  army.  This  sudden  and  unexpected  movement 
very  much  changed  the  aspect  of  affairs  for  the  time,  and  finally 
enabled  the  revolutionists  to  gain  a  complete  and  bloodless  tri 
umph,  almost  without  striking  a  blow,  and  which  was  immedi 
ately  followed  by.  what  appeared  to  be,  the  permanent  esta 
blishment  of  the  independence  of  the  country,  and  the  usurpa 
tion  of  supreme  power  by  the  ambitious  and  intriguing  Iturbide, 
under  the  royal  title  of  "Augustin  the  first." 

The  overthrow  of  the  Spanish  power  throughout  Mexico  was 
immediately  followed  by  proposals  of  a  plan  to  change  the 
form  and  character,  of  the  government,  called  by  its  author 
"the  plan  of  Iguala,"  or  "the  Three  Guarantees."  This  im 
portant  step  towards  the  recognition  of  a  new  and  more  conge- 
nial  form  of  government  was  suggested  and  superintended  by 
the  newly  risen  star  of  power,  the  lenient  and  patriotic  Don 
Augustino  Iturbide,  and  which  was  submitted  by  him,  in  per 
son,  to  an  assemblage  of  the  most  prominent  officers  and  lead 
ers,  which  had  been  convened  for  the  purpose  at  Iguala,  on  the 
24th  of  February,  1821.  And  thus  we  see  that  this  reformed 


IN  "MEXICO.  207 

and  reorganized  government,  with  all  the  rights  and  immunities 
which  it  proposed  to  secure  to  the  country  at  large,  was  to  be 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  military  despotism ;  a  government 
which  ever  has  prevailed  in  Mexico,  and  still  does  at  the  pre 
sent  day.  The  plan  of  Iguala,  as  submitted  by  Iturbide  and 
his  adherents  in  power,  and  adopted  by  the  military  authorities, 
proposed,  among  other  things,  the  maintenance,  preservation, 
and  perpetuity  of  the  Holy  Catholic  religion — the  intimate  and 
inseperable  union  of  the  Creole  and  European  population,  and 
the  separate  and  independent  government  of  Mexico.  And, 
finally,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1822,  General  Iturbide,  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  patriot  army,  was  proclaimed  Emperor  of  Mex 
ico,  with  the  title  of  "Augustin  the  first."  He  had  reigned  in 
regal  pomp  and  splendor  but  a  short  time,  when  his  tyrannical 
acts  and  ambitious  designs  soon  convinced  the  people  that  the 
successful  termination  of  the  late  revolutionary  struggle  had 
gained  them  nothing  but  a  change  of  masters,  with  the  advant 
ages,  if  any  thing,  in  favoi\  of  the  former*  without  extending 
their  rights  or  relieving  their  burdens.  The  few  remaining 
spirits  who  still  continued  faithful  to  the  cause  of  the  true  inter 
ests  of  their  country,  and  whose  lives  and  services  had  been 
identified  with  the  struggles  of  the  patriot  army,  had  retired  to 
their  homes,  or  were  scattered- among  the  mountains,  where 
they  were  anxiously  waiting  an  opportunity  to  strike  another 
blow  for  the  crushed  and  bleeding  cause  of  human  liberty  and 
equal  rights. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Emperor  was  basking  in  all  the  daz- 
z'ing  splendor  of  regal  authority,  surrounded  by  the  parasites  of 
power,  and  guarded  by  an  army  of  fifteen  thousand  men,  which 
was  regarded  as  sufficient  to  insure  his  safety  against  the  pro- 
nunciamentos,  and  keep  his  throne  firm  beneath  him.  Things 
went  on  in  this  way  until  January,  1823,  when  General  Santa 
Anna,  then  only  a  Colonel,  and  in  command  of  a  regiment 
stationed  at  Vera  Cruz,  with  a  bold  heart  and  a  strong  arm, 
once  more  sounded  the  tocsin  call  to  arms,  and  raised  the  stand 
ard  of  republic  liberty. 

With  no  other  adherents  but  his  own  regiment,  he  took  up 
the  line  of  march  for  the  Capital,  with  the  intention  of  subvert 
ing  the  power  of  Iturbide,  destroying  his  government,  and  es 
tablishing  a"  republican  one  in  its  stead.  This  was  considered 
by  all  as  rather  a  bold  and  daring  movement,  for  an  obscure 
Colonel,  with  only  one  regiment,  to  declare  against  the  govern 
ment  and  attempt  a  revolution ;  but  the  sequel  will  show  that  the 
boldness  of  the  attempt  \vas  only  equalled  by  the  energy  and 
skill  with  which  it  was  carried  on  to  a  happy  and  successful 


208 

termination,  which  crushed  the  last  vestige  of  monarchial 
po\vcr  in  Mexico,  at  least  under  that  name,  and  established  a 
liberal  and  permanent  republic,  or  at  least  as  much  so  as  the 
people  of  that  country  are  capable  of  appreciating.  Iturbide 
did  not  at  first  think  that  this  revolutionary  movement  was  of 
sufficient  importance  to  justify  the  trouble  and  expense  of  organ 
izing  and  fitting  out  a  force  to  put  it  down.  )t  is  true  that  the 
first  speck  of  disaffection  did  not  appear  to  the  haughty  and 
self-secure  Emperor  to  be  larger  than  a  man's  hand ;  but  it  was 
destined  soon  to  spread  itself  over  all  the  political  sky  and 
sweep  away  with  the  breath  of  the  storm  the  last  remaining 
prop  which  sustained  his  tottering  throne. 

General  Echevari  was  sent  from  the  Capital  at  the  head  of 
a  force  deemed  sufficient  to  crush  the  presumptuous  Colonel  and 
his  little  band  of  followers,  which  it  was  thought  that  he  could 
effect  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  advance  guards  of  the 
two  forces  had  several  pretty  severe  skirmishes  between  Vera 
Cruz  and  Jalapa,  but  without  any  important  advantage  being 
gained  on  either  side.  At  length  the  two  rival  commanders 
met,  and  Santa  Anna,  aware  that  his  force  was  too  slender  to 
risk  a  general  battle,  avoided  an  immediate  fight,  and  had  re 
course  to  stratagem,  and  so  managed,  by  his  deep  cunning  and 
artful  and  insinuating  address,  as  to  induce  Echevari  to  aband 
on  the  cause  of  the  Emperor  and  join  the  patriot  army,  which 
he  did  with  his  whole  force. 

This  at  once  invested  Santa  Anna  with  the  command  of  a 
large  and  respectable  body  of  men,  and  threw  a  ray  of  light 
athwart  the  future  pathway  of  that  bold  and  daring  leader,  and 
inspired  the  few  friends  that  still  surrounded  him  with  a  more 
bright  and  promising  hope  of  ultimate  success.  And  here  we 
meet  with  an  instance  which  goes  to  prove  that  there  was  one 
time  in  his  life  at  least,  when  he  had  too  much  patriotism  to 
allow  his  overweening  ambition,  or  an  insatiable  thirst  for  per 
sonal  aggrandizement,  to  thwart  the  interests  of  his  country  or 
impede  the  progress  of  republican  liberty. 

The  defection  of  Echevari  placed  Santa  Anna  at  the  head  of 
a  considerable  army,  of  which  he  was,  bona  fide,  the  corn- 
mander-in-chief ;  and  as  such,  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  have 
marched  against  Iturbide,  overthrow  his  government,  and  finally 
have  filled  the  Presidential  chair.  But  he  was  then  scarcely 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  he  decided  that  the  good  of  the 
country,  and  the  success  of  the  principles  of  liberal  political 
reform,  required  that  some  one  more  known  to  fame,  and  whose 
distinguished  services  in  the  patriot  army  had  given  him  a  more 
extended  reputation,  should  head  the  revolutionary  forces ;  one 


IN  MEXICO.  209 

whose  name  would  be  a  watchword,  and  who  would  be  able  to 
rally  to  his  standard  the  scattered  material  of  a  once  powerful 
and  numerous  army.  Accordingly,  he  instantly  resolves  to  call 
Victoria  from  his  mountain  cavern,  whence  he'  had  fled  after 
the  assumption  of  supreme  power  by  Iturbide,  and  at  once  re 
sign  to  him  the  command  of  the  whole  insurgent  force.  Vic 
toria  hearkened  to  the  call  of  his  bleeding  country,  emerged 
from  his  hiding  place  among  the  mountains  of  Vera  Cruz,  and 
assumed  the  command  of  the  patriot  army.  Thousands  rallied 
at  his  call,  and  the  march  against  the  Capital  was  resumed, 
which  resulted  in  the  complete  overthrow  of  the  government  of 
Iturbide,  his  banishment  from  the  country,  and  the  ultimate  es 
tablishment  of  a  more  liberal  form  of  republican  government. 
A  new  plan  was  formed  on  the  2d  of  February,  1823,  called  by 
its  framers  the  "Act of  Casas  Matas"  by  which  that  of  Iguala, 
or  the  "Three  Guarantees,"  was  entirely  superceded.  Don 
Augustino  Iturbide  was  proclaimed  Emperor  of  Mexico  by  the 
army  and  the  people  of  the  Capital  on  the  18th  day  of  May, 
and  the  few  remaining  deputies  constituting  the  fragments  of  a 
National  Congress,  sanctioned  the  proclamation  by  a  decree ; 
and  Iturbide  was  regularly  installed,  with  great  pomp  and  cere 
mony,  in  the  palace  of  the  viceroys,  under  the  title  of  Augustiri 
the  First.  "The  Act  of  Casas  Matas,  guaranteeing  a  republi 
can  form  of  government,  was  universally  adopted,  and  Iturbide, 
finding  himself  deserted  by  all  parties,  abdicated  the  throne  on 
the  19th  of  March,  just  ten  months  after  ho  had  first  ascended 
it ;  he  was  escorted  to  the  coast  near  Vera  Cruz,  and  on  the  1  Ith 
of  May  embarked  with  his  family  for  Leghorn."  Since  which 
time  the  government  of  Mexico  has  been  of  a  free  and  republi 
can  form,  or  at  least  has  been  received  and  recognized  as  such ; 
and  it  must  be  allowed,  for  the  facts  which  go  to  establish  it  are 
historic,  that  Santa  Anna  was  the  prime  mover  and  guiding 
spirit  of  the  revolution,  which  overthrew  and  blotted  out  for 
ever  the  last  vestige  of  monarchial  principles  that  ever  germi 
nated  in  the  prolific  soil  of  Spanish  tyranny  and  oppression,  and 
gave  to  Mexico  her  present  federal  republic. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1824,  a  constitution  was  framed, 
adopted  almost  exactly  upon  the  plan,  and  copied  very  much 
from  that  of  the  United  States,  the  two  most  material  differ 
ences  were  that  the  Catholic  religion  was  to  be  sustained  and 
supported  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others,  and  the  great  Magna 
Charta  of  civil  liberty,  the  trial  by  jury,  was  not  recognized, 
under  this  new  constitution.  General  Victoria  was  elected 
President,  and  General  Bravo,  Vice  President.  In  1829,  when 
(general  Barradas  landed  at  Tampico,  with  4,000  Spanish 


210  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

troops,  for  the  purpose  of  successfully  strangling  the  infant 
Hercules,  which  was  still  struggling  for  existence  in  the  cradle 
of  successive  revolutions,  and  paralyzing  the  energies  of  Colo 
nial  revolt,  Santa  Anna  immediately  set  about  collecting  an 
army  to  oppose  him.  Having  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  ser 
vices  of  seven  hundred  raw  recruits  at  Vera  Cruz,  he  immedi 
ately  set  out  to  meet  the  proud  invader  of  his  country's  rights, 
with  the  intention  of  giving  him  battle,  although  the  odds  against 
him  were  more  than  five  to  one.  Leaving  Vera  Cruz  in  small 
open  boats,  he  landed  at  Tampico  arid  found  that  General  Bar- 
radas  had  passed  into  the  interior  with  the  main  body  of  his 
troops,  leaving  one  thousand  men  to  occupy  and  defend  the 
town,  which  he  attacked  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  August, 
and  after  a  long  and  bloody  conflict,  the  troops  of  the  garrison 
surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war.  The  Spanish  Gen 
eral,  with  his  whole  force,  was  afterwards  attacked  in  garrison 
at  Tampico  by  General  Santa  Anna  with  about  1200  men,  and 
after  much  hard  fighting  for  several  successive  days  and  nights, 
Barradas  surrendered  his  army,  together  with  their  arms  and 
munitions  of  war,  after  which  he  soon  sailed,  with  the  small 
remnant  of  his  army,  for  Havana.  The  surrender  of  the 
Spanish  forces  took  place  on  the  llth  of  September,  1829, 
since  which  time  Old  Spain  has  never  made  any  attempt  to 
wards  recovering  the  revolted  province  of  Mexico.  The  au 
thor  of  "Mexico  and  her  Military  Chieftains,"  says: — "As 
Mr.  Thompson,  the  Envoy  of  the  United  States,  says,  this  de 
fence  of  Santa  Anna  recalls  to  us  the  history  of  General  Jack 
son's  famous  defence  of  New  Orleans,  the  strong  point  of  which 
was  not,  as  has  been  supposed,  the  defense  of  the  city  behind  the 
cotton  bags,  but  the  night  attack  on  the  British  immediately 
after  their  landing  amid  the  wind  and  rain,  which  enabled  the 
officers  of  Engineers  to  throw  up  the  breast  works,  which  such 
men  as  it  was  the  privilege  of  the  American  General  to  com 
mand,  could  defend  against  any  force.  One  thing,  however,  is 
sure,  the  strategy  of  Santa  Anna  on  that  occasion  was  second 
to  no  feat  of  arms  which  has  occurred  on  this  continent,  except 
the  defense  of  New  Orleans.  The  result  of  this  affair  was 
the  promotion  of  Santa  Anna."  In  1841,  he  pronounced 
against  the  government  of  President  Bustamente,  and  with  500 
ragged,  undisciplined  troops,  he  marched  upon  the  city  and 
overthrew  the  power  of  the  President,  who  was  protected  by  an 
army  of  8,000  regular  troops,  and  defeated  and  banished  him, 
while  the  provincial  government  was  organized  by  the  proper 
authorities  at  Tacubaya,  by  which  Santa  Anna  was  invested 
with  supreme  power. 


IN  MEXICO.  211 

He  was  inaugurated  President  of  the  Mexican  Republic, 
under  this  new  organization,  on  the  first  of  January,  1841,  by 
which  he  succeeded  in  destroying  the  beneficial  effects  of  the 
constitution  of  1824,  and  fastened  again  upon  the  people  the 
odious  central  system  which  caused  the  revolt  of  Texas  and 
several  other  States  of  the  confederacy.  Fay  Robinson  says : 
"  No  one,  we  fancy,  will  call  Mexico  a  republic,  or  Santa  Anna 
a  patriot;  as  Mr.  Thompson  says  he  is  not  a  model  man,  but  he 
is  a  great  one.  He  has  outlived  all  his  early  associates,  while 
every  man  who  began  life  with  him  is  either  dead  or  an  exile." 

I  would  not  be  considered  cither  the  indiscriminate  eulogist 
or  calumniator  of  Santa  Anna.  I  have  only  stated  facts,  from 
which  the  public  can  judge  of  his  character,  without  venturing 
an  opinion  of  my  own.  I  have  gleaned  these  facts  from  vari 
ous  works  of  Mexican  history,  which  I  have  thus  thrown  to 
gether,  in  as  intelligible  a  manner  as  possible,  forming  a  short 
and  condensed  historical  sketch,  in  order  that  the  reader  may 
be  better  able  to  judge  of  some  of  the  more  prominent  traits  of 
his  life  and  character,  as  exhibited  in  the  ever-changing  drama 
of  Mexican  revolutions  and  civil  wars,  from  the  humble  capa 
city  of  the  Colonel  of  a  regiment  to  the  President  of  a  Republic. 

It  was  thought  by  some,  that  when  peace  was  made  and  our 
forces  were  withdrawn  from  Mexico,  that  Santa  Anna  would 
return  and  join  the  anti-peace  party  and  declare  against  the 
government  of  Herrera;  but  such,  as  yet,  has  not  been  the 
case,  as  I  learn  from  the  papers  that  he  is  still  at  Havana,  the 
place  of  his  former  exile,  and  that  several  members  of  his 
family  have  recently  left  Vera  Cruz  with  the  intention  of  joining 
him  in  his  distant  home.  Whether  he  will  ever  return  to  Mex 
ico  and  attempt  to  recruit  his  fallen  fortunes  and  re-instate  him 
self  in  power,  is  a  problem  which  time  alone  can  solve ;  but  1 
should  not  be  at  all  surprised  to  find  him  ruling' that  whimsical 
and  capricious  people  as  their  President,  in  a  very  few  years, 
and  in  all  probability  before  the  term  of  Herrera's  administra 
tion  expires.  It  is  well  known  that  Santa  Anna  can  do  more 
with  the  Mexican  people,  and  can  exercise  a  more  powerful  and 
controlling  influence  over  their  minds,  wills  and  destinies,  than 
any  other  man  living;  and  his  powerful  mind  and  active  ener 
gies  will  not  be  allowed  to  lie  dormant  long  at  a  time. 

The  following  brief  sketch  of  the  person  and  appearance  of 
Santa  Anna  may  not  prove  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader; 
it  is  taken  from  General  Thompson's  most  excellent  work  on 
Mexico: — "General  Santa  Anna  is  now  about  fifty-four  (Ro 
binson  says  forty-six)  years  of  age.  He  is  about  five  feet  ten 
inches  high,  with  a  finely  proportioned  person.  His  complex- 


212 

ion  is  of  an  olive  cast,  but  not  indicating  any  mixture  of  blood, 
although  I  believe  he  is  not  of  pure  Castilian  lineage.  I  do 
not  know  that  I  have  ever  seen  a  more  striking  and  finely 
formed  head  and  face ;  there  is  scarcely  a  feature  or  a  point  in 
cither  that  Spurzheim  or  Lavater  would  desire  to  change.  I 
remember  to  have  heard  a  distinguished  American  statesman 
remark,  when  Santa  Anna  was  in  Washington,  that  he  had 
rarely  seen  a  face  indicative  in  a  higher  degree  of  talent,  firm 
ness  and  benevolence.  Mr.  Poinsett  had  an  interview  with 
him  in  1822;  he  saw  and  judged  of  him  free  from  the  false 
glare  of  high  position  and  extended  reputation.  Santa  Anna 
was  then  only  Colonel  of  a  regiment,  and  Mr.  Poinsett  was 
particularly  struck  with  his  high  bearing  and  polished  manners. 
Madame  Calderon  de  la  Barca  bears  the  same  testimony  to  the 
grace,  ease,  naturalness  of  manners,  and  the  thoughtfulness 
and  repose  which  are  so  striking  in  his  countenance ;  and  on 
this  subject,  there  is  no  authority  so  conclusive  as  that  ot  a  well 
bred  and  accomplished  lady.  I  have  seen  no  countenance  ex 
cept  that  of  General  Jackson,  whose  range  of  expression  was 
so  great,  where  there  was  so  great  a  difference  between  the 
quiet  expression  of  the  face  when  at  rest  and  in  a  gentle  mood, 
and  its  terrible  ferocity  when  highly  excited," 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  garrison  which  was  left  by  General  Scott  at  Puebla  in 
August,  when  our  army  marched  against  the  Capital,  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting  and  taking  care  of  the  sick  and  holding 
possession  of  the  city,  consisted  of  six  companies  of  the  first 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Black ;  one  company  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  under  command  of 
Captain  Ford;  company  B,  second  artillery,  under  Captain 
Kendrick ;  and  a  force  of  two  hundred  detached  troops  at  Fort 
Gaudaloupe,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Morehead ;  together 
with  the  convalescents  of  the  general  hospital  stationed  in  the 
church  buildings  of  San  Jose  and  San  Juan  de  Deus,  and  com 
manded  by  Captain  Rowe,  of  the  9th  infantry;  the  whole  of 
which,  composing  the  garrison  of  Puebla,  was  placed  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Colonel  Childs,  of  the  3d  artillery, 
who  had  been  appointed  Civil  and  Military  Governor  of  Puebla. 
During  the  time  that  the  main  army  was  quartered  at  Puebla, 
the  Palmetto  regiment  occupied  the  large  and  spacious  build 
ings,  including  the  San  Domingo  Church,  while  their  sick  was 


IN  MEXICO.  213 

placed  in  the  hospital  at  San  Francisco,  on  the  western  suburbs 
of  the  city.  But  when  the  army  left  for  the  city  of  Mexico,  the 
sick  of  this  regiment  was  removed  to  the  Tivoli,  a  most  beauti 
ful  and  romantic  spot,  to  which  is  attached  one  of  the  most 
lovely  and  extensive  gardens  I  ever  saw.  A  bold  running 
spring  of  clear  cold  water  gushes  from  the  earth  at  the  foot  of 
a  little  mound,  \vithin  a  few  steps  of  the  door  of  our  quarters, 
and  is  shaded  by  a  grove  of  tall  green  trees,  very  much  re 
sembling  the  poplar  of  this  country.  They  were  planted  in 
rows,  and  enclosed  a  beautiful  Paseo,  or  Alameda,  which  was 
one  of  the  chief  resorts  of  the  fashionables  of  the  city  on  Sab 
bath  afternoons,  when  it  never  fails  to  be  crowded  to  overflow 
ing  from  about  5  o'clock  until  sun  down.  The  track  for  car 
riages  and  horsemen  is  circular  like  a  race  course,  and  is  about 
a  mile  in  circumference,  while  the  paved  walk  for  pedestrians 
is  on  the  outside  of  the  track,  but  within  the  wall,  and  is  fur 
nished  with  seats  at  short  intervals,  and  in  the  centre  is  a  large 
fountain,  with  several  beautiful  jets  of  water  sjfouting  up  high 
in  the  air,  and  then  falling  back  in  the  basin,  looking  at  a  dis 
tance  like  ribbons  suspended  in  the  air,  or  streams  of  molten 
silver.  I  have  seen  this  beautiful  track  crowded  with  hundreds 
of  carriages,  from  every  window  of  which  peered  the  face  of 
some  gay  and  smiling  senorita,  dressed  in  all  the  gold  and  tin 
sel  and  gaudy  trappings  of  the  "Lowell  of  Mexico,"  while  the 
gay  and  dashing  caballeros,  mounted  on  their  spirited  and  richly 
caparisoned  steeds,  would  each  salute  his  favorite  doncella  on 
passing  her  carriage,  which  he  did  by  gently  raising  his  som- 
bero  and  slightly  inclining  his  body,  which  never  failed  to  be 
recognized  and  returned  by  the  fair  object  for  whose  special 
benefit  it  was  intended,  by  a  most  killing  smile,  and  a  gentle 
wave  of  the  fan,  the  import  of  which  is  perfectly  understood  by 
the  parties  concerned.  This  kind  of  polite  and  friendly  ma 
noeuvring  is  called  corte,  (courtship,)  and  is  frequently  carried 
on  for  months,  and  sometimes  years,  when  it  most  commonly 
terminates  in  marriage,  without  the  parties  ever  having  spoken 
to  each  other. 

We  had  remained  in  our  pleasant  quarters  at  the  Tivoli  about 
two  weeks,  when  an  express  arrived  from  Colonel  Childs,  or 
dering  us  to  prepare  to  remove  our  sick  early  on  the  following 
morning,  to  the  General  Hospital  at  San  Jose  church,  near  the 
Citadel,  which  was  the  garrison  head  quarters,  as  it  was  con 
sidered  dangerous  for  us  to  remain  a  longer  time  at  a  point  so 
remote  from  the  main  force.  Frequent  volleys  of  musketry 
had  been  heard  for  several  nights  in  the  direction  of  the  main 
plaza,  and  the  citizens  generally  seemed  to  be  in  an  unusual 


214  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

state  of  excitement ;  while  large  parties  of  horsemen,  appa 
rently  lancers  with  arms  under  their  cloaks,  had  lately  been 
seen  collecting  at  various  points  in  the  vicinity  of  the  suburbs. 
All  these  hostile  indications  induced  Colonel  Childs  to  believe 
that  a  general  and  organized  attack  upon  the  garrison  was  con 
templated,  and  he  forthwith  set  about  strengthening  his  defen 
ces,  and  preparing  his  slender  force  in  every  possible  way,  to 
meet  the  crisis  which  appeared  to  be  threatening  him  on  all 
sides.  Everything  'around  portended  the  gathering  storm 
which  was  intended  to  crush  and  overwhelm  our  little  garrison, 
and  the  most  active  measures  were  taken  to  meet  and  avert  the 
impending  danger ;  the  outposts  were  called  in,  strong  piquet 
guards  were  placed  upon  the  housetops,  and  at  the  corners  of 
the  streets  ;  the  line  of  sentinels  were  definitely  marked  out, 
and  the  posts  doubled. 

The  San  Jose  buildings  are  large  and  commodious,  and  con 
tained  about  five  hundred  sick  and  convalescents,  all  under  the 
medical  directfon  of  Chief-Surgeon  Mills,  assisted  by  Drs. 
Stephens,  Campbell,  Pen-in  and  Owings.  In  passing  from 
the  Tivoli  on  the  evening  of  our  removal,  I  fell  a  little  behind 
the  wagons,  having  in  charge  a  sick  soldier,  whom  I  was  as 
sisting  in  carrying  his  own  baggage.  Just  after  passing  the 
San  Francisco  church,  T  heard  a  brisk  firing  in  the  direction  of 
the  Grand  Plaza,  and  on  inquiring  of  a  sentinel  what  it  meant, 
he  informed  me  that  it  was  supposed  to  be  some  skirmishing 
between  the  citizens  and  the  guerillas,  and  in  a  few  moments 
we  might  expect  them  to  be  upon  us,  with  lance  and  escopet. 
I  suggested  to  my  sick  companion  the  propriety  of  quickening 
our  pace  as  much  as  possible,  as  we  had  already  passed  the 
dead  bodies  of  several  of  our  soldiers,  who  had  been  overtaken 
in  the  streets,  and  after  having  been  pierced  through  with  a 
lance,  were  robbed,  and  their  bodies  left  exposed.  In  crossing 
the  street  leading  to  the  main  plaza,  I  cast  my  eyes  in  that  di 
rection,  and  saw  a  vast  crowd  of  persons,  of  all  ages,  sexes 
and  conditions,  who  seemed  to  be  very  much  excited,  and  were 
hurrying  to  and  fro,  in  every  direction,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
I  could  distinctly  hear  the  incessant  roar  of  small  arms,  and 
see  the  flashes  .of  the  guns  from  the  housetops. 

Quickening  our  steps  a  little,  we  hastened  forward,  and  soon 
reached  in  safety  our  quarters  at-  San  Jose,  where  we  all  .con 
fidently  expected  an  attack  that  night,  and  immediately  set 
about  making  the  best  preparations  we  could,  to  meet  the  exi 
gencies  of  such  an  event.  There  you  might  have  seen  the 
emaciated  invalid,  labouring  under  the  wasting  influence  of 


IN  MEXICO.  215 

protracted  disease,  with  sunken  eye  and  tottering  limb,  exam 
ining  his  musket,  and  putting  it  in  order  for  the  coming  fight. 

At  length  the  firing  ceased,  the  turbulent  crowds  in  the  streets 
disappeared,  the  sun  went  down,  and  the  darkness  of  the  night 
shrouded  in  gloom  the  busy  and  excited  populace,  and  closed 
the  thrilling  events  of  that  eventful  day.  Every  man  was  at 
his  post,  and  a  sharp  look  out  was  kept  from  the  house-tops, 
and  church-steeples,  until  a  very  late  hour,  as  it  was  still  ex 
pected  that  the  firing  would  be  renewed,  under  the  advantages 
which  the  night  might  afford  the  enemy  in  choosing  his  position. 
But,  contrary  to  the  expectations  of  all,  hostilities  were  not  re 
sumed,  and  peace  and  quiet  brooded  upon  the  bosom  of  that 
mighty  and  populous  city,  and  nought  was  heard  through  the 
long  still  watches  of  that  anxious  night,  but  the  lonely  senti 
nel's  tread,  and  the  vigilant  watchman's  cry.  The  next  morn 
ing  rose  bright  and  beautiful ;  not  a  fleecy  cloud  spread  its 
white  wings  upon  the  horizon's  verge,  nor  dimpled,  with  its 
snowy  vesture,  the  azure  cheek  of  heaven  ;  net  a  breath  of 
air  came  forth  from  the  orange  groves  to  fan  the  fevered  brow 
of  the  invalid  soldier,  or  waft  a  whispered  sigh  towards  the 
long  lost  home  of  his  childhood;  the  bright  dew  drops  that  lin 
gered  upon  the  half  blown  rose,  sparkled  like  diamonds  in  the 
morning's  sun,  while  the  lofty  spires  and  golden  steeples  of  the 
beauteous  and  lovely  city  of  the  angels,  glinted  back  the  mild 
rays  of  Aurora's  first  born. 

The  day  passed  off  in  peace  and  quiet,  without  any  further 
demonstrations  of  hostility,  save  the  collecting  and  dispersing  of 
various  bodies  of  horsemen  on  the  neighboring  heights,  who 
seemed  desirous  of  reconnoitering  our  position,  and  determin 
ing,  if  possible,  the  strength  of  our  works  and  the  number  of 
our  forces.  The  busy  notes  of  preparation  were  heard  through 
out  the  whole  extent  of  the  American  lines,  while  every  effort 
was  being  made  by  night  and  day  to  strengthen  and  fortify  our 
position,  which  was  done  in  daily  expectation  of  an  attempt  to 
storm  our  works,  or  the  institution  of  a  regular  siege.  The 
line  of  our  future  operations  was  carefully  and  definitely  marked 
out,  and  our  sentinels  posted,  which  area  included  about  four 
blocks  or  squares  on  the  north  eastern  borders  of  the  city.  All 
communication  was  immediately  cut  off  between  our  troops 
and  the  citizens  without  our  lines ;  and  an  order  was  issued  by 
General  Rea  to  all  Mexicans  who  might  reside  within  the  line 
of  our  sentinels,  to  remove  beyond  it  within  the  space  of  twenty- 
four  hours  thereafter;  and  all  those  refusing  to  comply  with  this 
order,  would  be  considered  as  traitors  to  their  country,  and  be 
dealt  with  accordingly.  About  fifty  families  were  thus  deprived 


of  the  comforts  of  a  home  and  driven  forth  into  the  streets  to 
seek  aid  and  protection  from  the  kindness  of  friends,  or  the  cold 
hand  of  charity. 

On  the  night  of  the  9th  of  September,  a  large  party  of 
Guerrillas,  or  land  pirates  attacked  the  wagon  yard,  drove  the 
guard  from  their  positions,  and  captured  and  carried  ofF  about 
seven  hundred  mules,  together  with  other  property  to  a  large 
amount,  belonging  to  the  American  army.  The  next  day  the 
Mragon  masters,  teamsters,  clerks,  assistant  clerks,  quarter  mas 
ters,  commissaries,  dec-,  numbering  in  all  about  fifty  men,  se 
cured  the  requisite  number  of  horses,  and  armed  with  swords, 
muskets  and  pistols,  set  off  in  pursuit,  with  the  intention  of  re 
taking  the  stolen  property,  and  chastising  the  robbers.  They 
overtook  them  some  two  or  three  leagues  from  the  city,  on  a 
vast  open  plain,  and  just  as  they  were  mounted  and  ready  for 
the  start ;  this  was  peculiarly  unfortunate  for  our  men,  as  they 
had  hoped  to  come  upon  them  by  surprise,  and  attack  them 
when  they  were  unprepared  for  the  conflict.  Immediately  on 
approaching  within  musket  range,  our  party  fired  their  pieces 
and  then  sounded  the  charge,  and  putting  spurs  to  their  horses, 
dashed  furiously  upon  the  foe,  and  were  soon  mingling  with 
them  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight.  But  the  lancers  being  vastly 
superior  in  numbers,  and  well  armed  and  mounted,  fought  with 
every  advantage,  and  after  a  short,  but  fierce  and  bloody  con 
flict,  our  party  was  overpowered  and  routed.  Of  the  fifty  men 
who  went  into  the  fight,  only  about  fifteen  returned  to  the  city, 
the  balance  were  either  killed  on  the  field  or  were  overtaken 
and  lanced  in  the  pursuit. 

This  bold  and  successful  stroke  of  the  enemy  was  consider 
ed  by  all  as  the  tocsin  call  to  arms,  and  open  and  effective  hos 
tilities  immediately  commenced,  and  continued  with  unabated 
vigor  for  twenty-eight  days.  A  young  doctor  from  Kentucky, 
who  was  acting  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  General  Hospital. 
received  a  polite  note  from  a  young  lady  belonging  to  one  of 
the  first  families  of  the  city,  with  whom  he  had  become  ac 
quainted  before  the  army  left,  stating  that,  at  the  hour  of  mid 
night  succeeding  the  14th  day  of  September,  our  garrison 
would  be  attacked  at  all  points  by  a  large  body  of  infantry  and 
lancers  under  the  command  of  Generals  Rea  and  Torrejon ; 
and  sure  enough  her  prediction  proved  true  to  the  very  letter, 
for  at  the  very  hour,  and  on  the  very  night  specified,  we  were 
attacked  by  the  very  forces,  and  at  the  very  points  designated. 

The  din  of  battle  raged  during  the  rest  of  that  night,  which 
rose  above  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  clangor  of  arms,  the  bray 
ing  of  trumpets,  and  the  fierce  shouts  of  the  infuriated  populace 


IN  MEXICO.  217 

as  they  rushed  from  street  to  street,  intent  upon  their  work  of 
death  ;  the  sharp  report  of  the  deadly  escopet,  and  the  shrill 
blast  of  the  bugle,  vexed  the  drowsy  ear  of  night,  and  deprived 
the  weary  and  invalid  soldier  of  his  wonted  rest.  At  dawn  of 
day  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  the  firing  partially  ceased,  but 
as  soon  as  the  troops,  which  had  been  somewhat  scattered 
and  disorganised  through  the  darkness  of  the  night,  could  be 
collected  and  placed  in  order  of  battle  for  a  more  vigorous  and 
deadly  onset,  the  long  array  of  glittering  lances,  gaudy  uniforms, 
clattering  swords,  prancing  steeds,  and  burnished  muskets, 
might  have  been  seen  advancing  in  solid  columns  towards  the 
out-posts  of  the  American  works.  But  our  little  garrison,  no 
thing  daunted,  was  on  the  alert,  and  ready  to  receive  them  in 
good  soldier-like  style.  Every  man  was  at  his  post,  and  the 
"six  hundred  sick  Yankees,"  (as  Santa  Anna  contemptuously 
called  our  little  band,)  were  all  anxiously  waiting,  musket  in 
hand,  for  the  approach  of  this  formidable  host,  the  flower  and 
pride  of  Anahuac's  chivalry,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  sufficient 
ly  near  for  each  to  mark  his  man,  they  poured  into  their  halting 
ranks  a  sweeping  shower  of  leaden  deaths,  which  caused  many 
a  gallant  knight  of  the  poisoned  lance  to  bite  the  dust,  and  press, 
in  the  arms  of  chilly  death,  the  crimson  soil  of  his  own  sunny 
clime.  The  General  Hospital  building  was  the  principal  point 
of  attack,  and  the  hottest  and  most  direct  fire  of  the  besiegers 
was  directed  against  it  and  its  immediate  works ;  for  the  enemy 
was  fully  aware  of  the  fact,  that  if  they  could  once  gain  pos 
session  of  this  position,  they  would  then  be  able  completely  to 
command  the  Cuartel,  which  constituted  our  strongest  and  most 
important  line  of  defense,  and  also  contained  our  scanty  stock 
of  provisions.  The  whole  effective  force  of  the  garrison,  in 
cluding  the  convalescents  who  were  able  to  do  duty,  would  per 
haps  fall  short  of  1500  men,  while  the  sick  in  the  different  hos 
pitals  would  number  near  1800,  The  General  Hospital  itself 
contained  near  800  sick,  of  whom  about  100  were  able  to  do 
light  duty;  and  many  of  those  who  were  at  first  able  to  hand!" 
a  musket  with  some  effect,  were  soon  exhausted  and  their  physi 
cal  energies  prostrated  by  short  rations,  excessive  fatigue,  arn' 
constant  and  vigilant  watching  by  night  and  day,  which  it  w*> 
necessary  to  undergo  in  order  to  insure  a  successful  defens' 
I  have  often  seen  those  wrho  were  so  reduced  and  emaciated  1 
disease  as  to  be  unable  to  stand  without  support,  leaning  again 
the  window  sill,  and  firing  their  pieces  with  a  spirit  and  energ 
which  mocks  misfortunes  and  laughs  at  impossibilities. 

1  had  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  scenes  during  this  sie^ 
which  proved  conclusively  to  my  mind  that  the  citizen  soldi 
10 


218  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

is  far  from  being  deficient,  either  in  the  exhibition  of  cool  de 
termined  courage  that  can  unflinchingly  look  death  in  the  face, 
or  in  deeds  of  reckless  daring,  when  the  hour  of  peril  comes, 
and  circumstances  combine  to  awake  the  latent  fires  of  hero 
ism  that  slumber  in  his  patriot  breast.  Look  for  a  moment  to 
the  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  situation,  surrounded  as  we 
were  by  an  unknown  number  of  savage  and  blood-thirsty  foes, 
whose  avowed  and  sworn  determination  was  to  butcher  us  in 
cold  blood  the  moment  we  might  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into 
their  hands ;  at  the  same  time  aided  and  encouraged  by  an  in 
censed  and  hostile  population  of  one  hundred  thousand.  Many 
of  our  men  had  been  butchered  or  shot  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
city,  and  some  assassinations  had  taken  place  even  in  the  prin 
cipal  streets  and  crowded  thoroughfares,  after  our  army  had  left 
for  the  city,  and  before  the  commencement  of  open  hostilities  in 
Puebla,  which  exhibited  a  degree  of  national  antipathy  and  deep 
seated  hatred  which  nothing  but  blood  could  satisfy.  And  now, 
knowing  the  weak  and  feeble  state  of  the  garrison,  they  had 
determined  to  wreak  their  vengeance  upon  the  little  handful  of 
us  that  remained,  and  wash  out  with  our  blood  many  an  old 
score  which  they  might  have  recorded  against  our  people  and 
country,  and  after  having  cut  us  to  pieces,  trumpet  it  forth 
through  all  the  land  as  a  great  and  brilliant  victory. 

In  order  that  we  might  not  be  mistaken  as  to  the  character  of 
the  foe  against  whom  we  were  contending,  and  at  the  same 
time  save  us  the  trouble  of  asking  for  quarters,  they  caused  to 
be  displayed  in  full  view  of  our  lines,  a  black  flag,  surmounted 
with  a  death-head  and  cross-bones ;  but  had  they  known  us  as 
well  as  we  did  them,  they  could  have  spared  themselves  this 
trouble,  as  I  arn  confident  there  was  not  a  man  in  our  ranks 
that  would  not  have  scorned  to  ask  or  receive  quarters  at  their 
hands. 

But  the  besieging  foe  that  assailed  us  from  without  was  not 
the  only  enemy  with  which  we  had  to  grapple ;  for  it  seemed 
that  Providence  had  been  pleased  to  fill  up  the  cup  of  our  suf 
fering  to  the  very  brim  and  pour  out  the  seventh  vial  of  His 
wrath  upon  us;  for  while  we  were  strengthening  our  position 
and  laboring  night  and  day  in  preparing  to  defend  our  works  to 
the  last  extremity,  with  scarcely  a  sufficiency  of  able  bodied 
men  to  form  an  efficient  guard,  an  insidious  foe  in  the  shape  of 
a  raging  typhoid  fever  broke  out  in  our  midst,  and  carried  off 
its  hundreds  in  a  few  weeks,  so  that  there  was  death  without  as 
well  as  within  our  line  of  works. 

War,  famine,  and  pestilence,  in  their  most  hideous  and  fright 
ful  forms,  were  stalking  through  our  fait  thinning  ranks,  mark- 


IN  MEJICO.  219 

ing  their  destructive  course  with  death  and  desolation;  the 
plague  seemed  destined  to  cut  off  the  few  remaining  wrecks  of 
mortality,  which  the  tender  mercies  of  the  lance  and  escopet 
had  spared.  We  were  eventually  driven  to  the  necessity  of 
burying  our  dead  in  the  court-yard  of  the  building  inclosure, 
ibr  the  enemy  had  erected  breastworks  across  every  street  that 
commanded  the  entrance  to  our  quarters,  which  rendered  it 
almost  certain  death  to  appear  in  the  street,  or  to  advance  even 
beyond  the  inner  threshold  of  our  works.  The  enemy,  in  at 
tempting  to  cut  off  access  to  our  provisions  in  the  Cuartel,  had 
erected  strong  fortifications,  composed  of  cotton  bags,  across 
the  various  streets  leading  to  that  point ;  so  that  we  were 
driven  to  the  necessity  of  carrying  our  supplies  under  cover  of 
the  night ;  and  when  the  vigilant  watch  of  the  Mexican  guards 
cut  off  that  resource,  we  were  ordered  to  cut  a  passage  through 
the  walls  of  the  intervening  buildings,  and  thus  secure  a.  more 
tedious,  but  less  exposed  rout.  Behind  these  works  me  enemy 
posted  large  bodies  of  their  best  marksmen,  who  lay  secure  in. 
their  concealment  the  whole  day,  and  if  one  of  our  men  dared 
to  show  his  head  in  the  streets,  he  was  certain  to  be  saluted  by 
a  shower  of  bullets. 

Some  of  their  barricades  and  fortified  buildings  had  become 
quite  annoying,  and  were  doing  considerable  mischief  upon  the 
more  exposed  part  of  our  lines-,  which,  when  perceived  by 
Colonel  Childs,  he  ordered  Captain  Small,  of  the  first  Penn 
sylvania  regiment,  to  make  a  demonstration  against  one  of  their 
strongest  positions,  which  seemed  to  be  most  prominent  in  an 
noying  our  troops,  and  which  he  accomplished  in  gallant  style, 
with  only  fifty  men,  by  cutting  his  way  through  an  entire  block 
of  buildings,  and  taking  possession  of,  and  burning  the  barri 
cade  which  consisted  of  150  bags  of  cotton,  putting  the  whole 
force  to  rout  and  leaving  seventeen  of  the  enemy  dead  upon 
the  ground. 

About  the  same  time,  Lieutenant  Laidly,  of  the  ordnance 
corps,  was  sent  with  a  small  detachment  to  blow  up  a  promi 
nent  and  fortified  building  near  the  convent,  and  just  opposite 
the  General  Hospital  at  San  Jose,  from  whose  parapet  walls  on 
the  roof  the  enemy  had  given  us  much  trouble  and  picked  off 
several  of  our  men.  Every  thing  was  made  ready,  and  at  mid 
night  the  train  was  fired,  and  the  building,  with  its  contents, 
blown  into  ten  thousand  atoms,  the  powerful  shock  of  which 
made  the  city  tremble,  while  the  lurid  glare  of  the  tremendous 
explosion  made  the  cheek  of  darkness  blush,  and  exposed  for 
a  moment  the  different  positions  of  the  surrounding  enemy. 
Lieutenant  Morgan,  of  the  14th  infantry,  with  a  small  detach- 


3tO  SCOTTS 

men!  of  marines,  and  Lieutenant  Menyfield  of  the  15th  infantry, 
with  some  fifteen  or  twenty  of  the  rifles,  made  a  most  daring 
and  gallant  movement  against  some  fortified  buildings,  from  un 
der  cover  of  which  we  had  been  receiving  a  most  galling  and 
well  directed  fire  for  several  days  previous.  The  buildings 
were  entered  for  a  moment  by  the  rifles,  the  marines  being 
less  fortunate  ;  but  the  enemy  being  present  in  great  force,  and 
fighting  under  cover  of  their  works,  from  whence  it  was  found 
impossible  to  drive  them,  they  were  enabled  to  gain  a  moment 
ary  advantage,  when  our  troops  were  ordered  to  fall  back, 
which  they  did  in  good  order,  with  the  loss  of  one  man.  No 
blame  whatever  could  attach  to  either  officers  or  men,  as  they 
were  compelled  to  retire  before  an  overwhelming  force,  where 
a  longer  stand  would  only  have  insured  their  utter  destruction, 
without  any  prospect  of  gaining  an  advantage. 

Captain  Herron,  with  his  company  of  Pennsylvania  volun 
teers,  was  sent  to  take  possession  of  a1  building,  from  which  the 
enemy  had  been  raking  the  street  leading  to  the  plaza,  thereby 
causing  our  troops  much  trouble  and  inconvenience,  which 
difficult  and  dangerous  undertaking  he  accomplished  in  fine 
style,  \vith  the  loss  of  some  four  or  five,  severely  wounded. 
Colonel  Childs  was  highly  pleased  with  the  result  of  this  move 
ment,  and  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  gallant  captain  and 
his  folorn  hope  ;  for  no  one  expected,  when  they  marched  to 
take  the  building,  that  one  of  them  would  ever  return  alive. 

The  sentinels  on  post  manifested  a  degree  of  noble  daring 
and  cool,  deliberate  courage,  which  would  have  done  credit  to 
older  and  more  experienced  troops  ;  their  positions  were  ne 
cessarily  very  much  exposed,  and  as  soon  as  one  was  shot 
down,  another  was  willing  and  ready  to  take  the  post  of  dan 
ger,  although  fully  aware  that  he  -  might  soon  be  doomed  to 
share  the  fate  of  his  predecessor.  A  soldier,  one  afternoon, 
in  endeavoring  to  get  near  enough  to  pick  off  a  Mexican,  who 
had  been  annoying  our  troops,  and  firing  upon  our  sentinels 
from  a  concealed  position,  ventured  a  little  too  near  the  enemy's 
line,  was  shot  down,  severely  wounded,  at  a  point  where  either 
party,  in  approaching  him,  would  expose  itself  to  a  direct  and 
deadly  fire  from  the  other.  So  the  wounded  soldier  had  to  re 
main,  midway  between  the  two  contending  forces, -upon  the 
spot  where  he  fell,  unable  to  move^and  suffering  the  intense 
agonies  of  a  severe  wound,  until  night  came  on,  when,  under 
the  cover  of  darkness,  one  of  his  comrades,  more  daring  than 
the  rest,  approached  the  fallen  soldier,  and  bore  him  safely  to 
his  quarters,  and  although  saluted  by  a  shower  of  bullets,  yet 


IN  MEXICO.  221 

he  escaped  unhurt,  and  received  the  applause  and  congratula 
tions  of  all  who  witnessed  his  bold  and  daring  adventure. 

Our  stock  of  provisions  were  by  this  time  growing  extremely 
short,  so  much  so  that  we  were  compelled  to  subsist  on  less 
than  half  rations,  which  inconvenience,  when  added  to  the 
labor  and  fatigue  of  hard  fighting  and  incessant  watching  by 
day  and  night,  was  fast  prostrating  the  health  and  energies  of 
those  who  were  most  strong  and  active  among  us  during  the 
earlier  part  of  the  siege. 

All  the  fountains  which  principally  occupy  the  court  yards, 
or  patios  in  the  city  of  Puebla,  are  supplied  with  water  con 
veyed  through  pipes  or  subterraneous  aqueducts  from  the  river 
Nasca,  which  arrangement  enabled  the  besiegers  to  cut  off  our 
supplies  of  that  article  with  but  little  inconvenience  to  them 
selves  ;  and  of  which  efficient  mode  of  reducing  our  garrison 
they  very  promptly  availed  themselves.  •  And  had  it  not  been 
about  the  time  of  the  rainy  season,  which  enabled  us  to  secure 
a  supply  from  the  aqueducts  and  reservoirs  on  the  roofs  of  the 
houses,  we  should  evidently  have  suffered  to  a  much  more  seri 
ous  extent  than  wo  did. 

Many  of  the  soldiers  had  formed  some  genuine  and  intimate 
friendships  among  the  Mexicans  .before  the  commencement  of 
the  siege — and  they  are  the  last  people  in  the  world  to  forget  a 
kindness  once  offered,  or  a  friendship  when  once  thoroughly 
contracted;  and  many  of  them  were  still  kindly  disposed,  and 
seemed  desirous  of  assisting  us  in  our  present  critical  and  dan 
gerous  situation;  but  they  were  so  closely  watched  that  few 
opportunities  offered  for  manifesting  their  generous  and  sympa 
thetic  feelings  for  us. 

I  well  remember  a  beautiful  Indian  girl,  and  as  gentle  and 
kind  hearted  a  creature  as  ever  lived,  who  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  visiting  our  quarters  before  the  siege,  in  the  capacity  of  a 
market  woman,  for  the  purpose  of  vending  fruits,  vegetables, 
and  sweet  maats ;  but  after  open  hostilities  had  deprived  her  of 
this  privilege,  she  still  continued  her  acts  of  kindness  by  se 
cretly  supplying  us  with  many  of  the  good  things  of  life  from 
her  humble  and  scanty  stock,  as  often  as  an  opportunity  would 
offer  for  smuggling  them  into  our  quarters,  although  she  was 
aware  that  she  did  it  at  the  manifest  peril  of  her  life. 

She  informed  us  in  what  part  of  the  city  she  lived  and  on 
what  street,  and  said  that  if  -\vc  were  finally  driven  from  our 
position  by  superior  numbers,  and  could  be  so  fortunate  as  to 
escape  alive,  and  reach  her  humble  domicil,  that  she  would 
conceal  us  in  some  corner  until  danger  had  passed,  and  then 
assist  us  in  making  our  escape  from  the  city.  Some  month* 


222 

afterwards,  I  met  this  same  girl  in  the  market  at  the  grand 
plaza;  she  instantly  recognised  me,  and  seemed  overjoyed  at 
meeting  me  alive  and  well,  after  having  made  such  a  narrow 
escape,  and  kindly  offered  me  a  poition  of  all  the  fruits  she  had 
in  her  basket.  And  many  a  soldier  yet  living,  while  reviewing 
the  reminiscences  of  camp  life,  and  the  incidents  of  the  cam 
paign,  will  remember  with  pleasing  emotions  the  kind  offices 
and  gentle  care  of  the  humble  and  unpretending,  but  beautiful 
Dolores;  and  the  Indian  girl  of  Puebla  will  not  be  forgotten 
while  the  soldier  remembers  the  scene  of  his  suffering,  or  the 
kind  and  gentle  hand  that  smoothed  the  restless  couch  of  afflic 
tion,  where  a  wife's  caress,  a  mother's  prayer,  or  a  sister's  tear, 
could  never  bless  the  exiles  home,  or  cheer  his  hapless  lot. 
There  was  a  kind  and  faithful  old  senora,  who  resided  the  next 
block  from  our  lines,  and  being  aware  of  the  distressed  and 
destitute  condition  of  the  garrison,  she  managed,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  a  Mexican  boy  who  remained  in  our  quarters 
to  attend  the  sick,  to  convey,  nightly,  to  some  half  dozen  of  the 
soldiers  with  whom  she  had  become  acquainted,  and  who,  on 
former  occasions,  had  shown  her  some  kindness,  small  quantities 
of  pan,  leche,  y  came,  (bread,  milk,  and  meat,)  for  which  the 
old  woman  never  failed  to  receive  a  shower  of  blessings  from 
those  who  knew  how  to  appreciate  a  kindness. 

At  length  her  nightly  visits  ceased,  and  no  one  could  account 
for  the  cause.  Night  after  night  passed  off  and  the  old  woman 
came  not,  which  created  some  anxiety  among  her  friends,  espe 
cially  those  who  had  been  most  benefitted  by  her  kind  atten 
tions.  It  was  soon,  however,  ascertained  that  she  had  been 
murdered ;  she  was  returning  home  one  night  from  the  perform 
ance  of  her  accustomed  deeds  of  charity,  when  she  was  met 
upon  the  threshold  of  her  humble  cottage  by  her  enraged  hus 
band,  who  informed  her  that  her  traitorous  communication  with 
the  enemies  of  her  country  had  at  length  been  detected,  and 
with  the  fury  of  an  incarnate  demon  flashing  in  his  counte 
nance,  he  rushed  upon  the  innocent  and  helpless  companion  of 
his  bosom,  and  plunged  a  dagger  to  her  heart,  and  she  fell  at  his 
feet  a  lifeless  corpse.  The  base  murderer  fled  from  justice, 
and  the  next  morning  the  mangled  body  of  his  wife  was  found 
upon  the  floor,  and  her  infant  child  sitting  by  her  side,  vainly 
endeavoring  to  awake  its  dead  mother  by  repeatedly  calling  her 
name  in  the  most  pitious  tones.  I  might  advert  to  many  such 
instances  as  these,  for  they  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence ; 
hundreds  of  females  fell  victims  to  the  rage  of  the  infuriated 
populace,  on  account  of  their  kindness  to  the  officers  and  sol 
diers  of  the  American  army:  but  I  must  beg  the  reader's  par- 


IN  MEXICO.  223 

don  for  this  apparent  digression,  and  proceel  with  the  thread  of 
my  narrative. 

In  the  mean  time,  Colonel  Childs  had  caused  a  battery  to  be 
erected  across  the  main  street  leading  from  the  Cuartel  to  the 
Grand  Plaza,  which  was  formed  of  square  bales  of  tobacco, 
something  smaller  than  ordinary  cotton  bags,  upon  which  he 
mounted  two  8-inch  howitzers,  by  which  he  could  completely 
enfilade  the  street  in  that  direction  for  near  half  a  mile.  This 
batter)  afterwards  did  great  execution  against  the  large  bodies 
of  infantry  and  cavalry,  and  the  dense  masses  of  disaffected 
citizens,  who  would  frequently  collect  near  the  plaza,  as  a  place 
of  general  rendezvous,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  their  forces 
designed  to  operate  against  us,  and  assaulting  our  works  in 
solid  column. 

The  guns  of  Fort  Loretto  also  did  very  effective  service  in 
dispersing  the  turbulent  crowds  who  would  daily  collect  about 
the  Cathedral,  and  by  firing  rockets  and  ringing  bells,  endeavor 
to  arouse  and  rally  the  populace ;  but  a  few  rounds  of  shot  and 
shells  from  the  fort  would  disperse  the  mob,  and  in  some  mea 
sure  restore  order  and  quiet.  One  shell  which  fell  and  exploded 
in  the  crowded  market,  is  said  to  have  killed  twenty  persons, 
and  wounded  as  many  more.  1  have  frequently  gone  into  the 
steeple  of  the  San  Jose  Church  to  watch  the  course  of  the  shot 
and  shells  from  the  fort,  as  they  would  roar  through  the  air 
above  my  head,  and  then  turning  my  eyes  towards  the  plaza,  I 
could  see  the  point  where  they  would  strike,  while  the  dense 
masses  that  were  collected  about  there  would  be  running  and 
dodging  in  every  direction. 

The  siege  had  continued  about  two  weeks,  with  repeated  man 
ifestations  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  of  a  disposition  to  take  us 
by  storm;  accompanied,  by  an  incessant  fire  of  musketry  by 
day  and  night,  with  only  occasional  intervals,  when  General 
Santa  Anna,  having  been  defeated  and  driven  from  the  city  of 
Mexico,  appeared  before  Puebla  at  the  head  of  an  army  of 
8,000  men,  and  demanded  a  formal  surrender  of  the  garrison,  in 
which  he  kindly  proposed  to  allow  Colonel  Childs  the  privilege 
of  leaving  the  city  unmolested,  after  surrendering  his  artillery, 
arms  and  ammunition.  But  these  terms — merciful  and  lenient 
as  they  were — were  such  as  Colonel  Childs  did  not  see  proper 
to  accede  to,  so  he  immediately  returned  an  answer,  informing 
Santa  Anna  that  he  begged  leave  respectfully  to  decline  sur 
rendering  his  post  at  discretion,  and  that  upon  mature  delibera 
tion,  he  had  determined  to  defend  his  position  against  any  odds, 
to  the  last  extremity. 

The  net*  demanding  a  surrender  was  carried  under  cover  of 


224 


SCOTT  S    CAMPAIGN 


a  flag  of  truce,  by  Major  Iturbidc,  together  with  several  other 
of  Santa  Anna's  aids,  and  who  was  candid  enough  to  inform 
the  General  on  their  return,  and  before  the  written  reply  was 
received,  that,  he  need  not  expect  any  accommodations  at  the 
hands  of  that  cross  and  crusty  old  Colonel,  more  especially  it 
his  face  was  to  be  taken  as  a  proper  index  of  his  firmness  and 
decision  of  character;  but  that  if  he  expected  to  get  either  the 
"six  hundred  sick  Yankees,"  or  their  arms  and  ammunition,  it 
was  more  than  probable  that  he  would  have  to  do  it  at  the  cost, 
of  some  hard  fighting. 

Colonel  Ohilds  immediately  rode  round  to  all  the  points  occu 
pied  by  the  garrison,  and  informed  them  of  Santa  Anna's  call 
upon  him  to  surrender,  and  his  consequent,  refusal  and  determi 
nation  to  defend  himself  to  the  last.  This  intelligence  was 
received  by  all  with  long  and  loud  shouts  of  applause,  which 
echoed  along  the  lines  of  the  enemy  and  made  the  welkin  ring  ; 
and  the  enthusiasm  manifested  by  the  troops  assured  our  brave 
and  gallant  commander  that  the  material  of  which  his  little 
army  was  composed,  was  such  as  could  be  depended  upon  in 
the  hour  of  danger;  and  that  every  man  of  that  small  but  well- 
tried  band  had  determined  to  stand  by  him  to  the  d^ath.  When 
the  army  left  for  the  city  in  August,  the  flag  from  the  stafYon  the 
walls  of  Fort  Loretto  had,  from  some  cause  or  other,  been  re 
moved,  and  the  garrison  now  determined  to  have  another;  so 
they  commenced  looking  about  them  for  the  proper  material 
from  which  to  make  one.  At  length  they  found,  in  some  nook 
or  corner,  an  old  Mexican  uniform,  which  was  composed  of 
about  an  equal  proportion  of  red,  white,  and  blue;  this  was 
soon  torn  into  narrow  strips,  and  an  ex-tailor  being  found  in 
camp,  whose  patriotism  had  induced  him  to  leave  the  board  for 
the  barracks,  a  substantial  flag,  with  tolerably  decent  stars  and 
stripes,  was  forthwith  manufactured  and  run  up  upon  the  flag 
staff,  in  proud  defiance,  and  in  full  view  of  the  Mexican  army, 
and  which  the  whole  garrison  saluted  as  it  went  up  with  three 
hearty  cheers.  As  soon  as  its  flowing  folds  were  flung  to  the 
breeze,  the  band  assembled  round  it,  and  struck  up  the  tune  of 
Yankee  Doodle,  amid  the  deafening  shouts  and  cheers  which 
burst  simultaneously  from  all  points  occupied  by  the  garrison. 

By  the  dawn  of  the  noxt  day,  at  least,  we  all  confidently  ex 
pected  that  the  combined  forces  of  Santa  Anna,  Rea,  and  Tor- 
rejon,  amounting  in  all  to  about  15,000  men,  would  open  their 
batteries  in  fire  and  smoke  upon  us,  and  march  their  serried 
ranks  in  solid  columns  against  every  fortified  point  of  our  works 
at  the  same  time,  with  the  intentiqn  of  taking  us  by  storm,  or 
driving  us  from  our  position  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  ,Ac- 


IK 


cordingly  we  spent  that  afternoon  and  night  in  preparing  for 
what  we  conceived  to  be  the  last  desperate  struggle  of  the 
siege,  which  we  now  conceived  to  be  inevitable.  For  we  all 
seemed  almost  intuitively  to  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion, 
that,  in  accordance  with  the  established  usages  and  customs  of 
modern  warfare,  that  a  demand  of  surrender  on  the  part  of  one 
army,  followed  by  a  refusal  to  comply  on  the  part  of  the  other, 
was  almost  invariably  succeeded  by  a  fight.  But  in  this  we 
were  destined  to  be  disappointed.  The  firing,  it  is  true,  was 
commenced  at  quite  an  early  hour,  and  was  kept  up  with  consi 
derable  spirit  throughout  the  day,  but  nothing  like  a  charge  or 
assault,  as  we  all  expected. 

I  well  remember  the  deep  anxiety  and  heart-burnings  of  that 
morning.  It  was  the  Sabbath,  and  as  bright  and  lovely  a  day 
as  ever  lifted  its  cheering  beams  upon  the  flowery  plains  of  that 
soft  and  sunny  clime.  I  could  almost  fancy  that  I  heard  the 
welcome  sounds  of  the  church-going  bell  as  it  called  the  peace 
ful  citizens  of  the  land  of  my  loved  but  distant  home  to  the 
house  of  worship  ;  and  then  I  thought  how  different  was  my 
occupation  and  the  circumstances  which  surrounded  me  ;  in 
stead  of  preparing  for  the  solemn  and  delightful  services  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath,  I  \vas  preparing  my  musket  for,  what  I  had 
every  reason  to  believe,  would  be  a  bloody  day's  work,  and 
wondering  where,  and  in  what  condition,  the  close  of  that  day 
would  find  me,  The  surgeons  visited  the  different  wards  of  the 
hospital  on  that  morning  before  sun-rise,  and  as  many  as  were 
able  to  leave  their  beds  —  and  many  that  were  not  —  had  their 
arms  in  their  hands,  and  wore  at  their  posts  by  early  dawn, 
ready  to  do  or  die  for  the  honor  of  their  country's  flag. 

We  had  managed  toflfccure  a  supply  of  timber  from  the  ad 
joining  buildings,  from  which  we  had  constructed  breastworks 
upon  the  flat  roof  of  the  church  above  our  quarters,  and  from 
which  we  were  enabled  to  make  a  most  excellent  defense,  the 
position  being  so  elevated  that  we  could  fire  down  upon  them 
with  fatal  and  deadly  effect  for  several  blocks  in  every  direction. 
We  were  kept  closely  at  our  posts  throughout  the  day,  by  re 
peated  sallies  and  skirmishes  from  the  sharp  shooters  who  were 
stationed  upon  the  surrounding  house  tops,  and  at  the  doors  and 
windows,  and  corners  of  the  streets.  On  tha.t  night,  the  south 
gate  leading  into  the  first  court  yard  in  front  of  our  quarters, 
was  set  on  fire  about  9  o'clock,  and  burned  to  the  ground,  while 
the  soldier  who  fired  it  was  shot,  down  in  the  act,  and  lay  so 
near  the  flames  that  his  clothes  were  burned  from  off  him,  and 
his  body  lay  expospd  without  either  party  being  able  to  reach  it, 
until  the  famished  dogs  in  the  street  devoured  it.  The  gate 


226  »«QTT'S 

was  a  very  large  one,  and  the  breach  thus  effected  \ras  suffi- 
cient  to  have  admitted  eight  men  abreast,  and  through  which 
we  confidently  expected  that  Santa  Anna  would  pour  his  con 
quering  legions  in  living  torrents  the  moment  the  flames  had 
sufficiently  subsided;  and  we  were  all  waiting  in  the  highest 
possible  state  of  anxious  excitement,  at  every  window,  door, 
and  port-hole,  besides  a  considerable  number  on  the  roof,  with 
cocked  pieces,  ready  to  give  the  first  platoon  a  warm  and  soldier 
like  reception. 

But  contrary  to  our  expectations,  and  even  our  wishes,  they 
came  not — the  opportunity  was  permitted  to  pass  unimproved — 
no  shout  went  up  from  the  besieging  forces — no  rush  was  made 
to  carry  our  works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  which  no  doubt 
might  have  been  accomplished,  had  their  troops  been  composed 
of  the  proper  material.  But  had  the  attempt  been  made,  and 
had  Santa  Anna's  army  marched  through  that  gate,  as  we  all 
expected,  and  which  he  himself,  no  doubt,  at  first  intended  to 
do,  five  hundred  muskets  would  have  poured  a  steady  stream  of 
fire  into  their  crowded  ranks,  and  have  choked  every  avenue  of 
their  approach  with  the  dead  bodies  of  a  thousand  men.  The 
feelings  of  our  little  garrison  was  wrought  up  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  nervous  excitement,  and  each  had  inly  resolved  to  die 
at  his  post  if  necessary,  and  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 
For  we  had  often  been  assured  that  if  we  should  be  so  unfortu 
nate  as  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  no  quarter  would  be 
given  us,  and  that  we  would  all  be  butchered  in  cold  blood;  at 
least  this  would  have  been  the  case  had  we  been  taken  before 
the  arrival  of  Santa  Anna ;  but  we  hoped  that  he  might  see 
proper  to  use  his  influence  in  controlling  the  fierce  and  lawless 
propensities  of  the  Guerrillas,  and  the^nraged  populace,  and 
thus  have  been  the  means  of  sparing  our  lives. 
.  On  this  account  alone  we  felt  somewhat  relieved  when  we 
understood  that  he  had  arrived  before  the  city,  for  we  were  all 
aware  of  the  fearful  fact  that,  unless  speedily  relieved,  we  must 
inevitably,  and  that  in  a  very  short  time,  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy;  and  we  felt  confident  that  Santa  Anna  would  feel 
himself  in  some  measure  bound  to  observe  towards  us  the 
rules  and  regulations  of  civilized  warfare,  which  he  had  not 
violated  during  the  present  war.  The  next  morning  after  the 
burning  of  the  gate,  Santa  Anna  sent  Major  Iturbide,  and 
others  of  his  officers,  to  reconnoitre  our  position,  and  report 
upon  the  practicability  of  taking  us  by  storm.  This  reconnoi- 
sance  took  place  from  a  loop  hole  in  the  parapet  wall  of  a 
building  on  the  opposite  square,  and  which  commanded  a  most 
excellent  view  of  our  works.  But  the  strong  and  well-defended 


IN    MEXICO,  227 

breast  works  on  the  roof  of  the  house — the  windows  all  bari- 
caded  and  fortified  with  sand  bags — and  the  double  tier  of  port 
holes  in  all  the  larger  doors,  and  in  the  parapet  walls  on  the 
rook — all  taken  into  consideration,  induced  hirn  to  report  unfa 
vorably  as  the  assault  could  only  be  accomplished  by  the 
bravest  troops,  and  at  a  very  great  sacrifice  of  life.  He  there 
fore  suggested  the  propriety  of  drawing  off  a  sufficient  number 
of  men  from  the  besieging  force  to  enable  him  to  meet  and 
fight  General  Lane  at  the  strong  mountain  oass  of  the  Final, 
and  thereby,  if  possible,  cut  off  the  relief  which  the  garrison 
at  Puebla  had  long  expected  from  that  quarter. 

Santa  Anna  intended  to  reach  this  narrow  defile,  which  was 
most  admirably  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  defense,  in  time  to 
fortify  it  before  General  Lane  could  reach  it,  who  was  then  ou 
the  march  from  Perote,  and  pushing  on  with  all  possible  speed 
to  relieve  Colonel  Childs,  of  whose  critical  situation  he  had 
already  been  informed  by  a  courier.  But  instead  of  surprising 
Lane  and  cuttting  off  his  advance,  he  was  himself  surprised  at 
the  town  of  Huamantla  and  defeated  with  great  loss.  It  was 
here  that  Captain  Walker  was  killed,  with  many  of  his  intrepid 
rangers,  all  of  which  must  have  been  cut  off  to  a  man,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  timely  arrival  of  the  infantry  force. 

It  has  been  thought  that  he  fell  a  victim  to  his  own  rashness 
and  daring  impetuosity.  He  commanded  the  advance  guard  of 
horsemen,  and  was  ordered  to  move  forward  ahead  of  the  main 
column,  but  at  the  same  time  within  easy  supporting  distance 
of  it;  and  on  reaching  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  if  the  enemy 
appeared  in  force,  he  was  ordered  to  await  the  arrival  of  the 
infantry.  But  instead  of  this,  as  soon  as  he  was  out  of  sight  of 
the  main  body,  he  ordered  a  gallop,  and  entered  the  city  sword 
in  hand,  intending  to  finish  the  fight  before  the  infantry  came 
up;  and  the  consequence  was,  that  he  himself  was  killed,  with 
most  of  his  command. 

Major  Iturbide  and  Colonel  La  Vega,  two  ot  Santa  Anna's 
aids,  were  taken  prisoners,  both  fighting  gallantly.  They  both 
remained  prisoners  of  war  in  Puebla  for  several  months,  and 
seemed  to  enjoy  themselves  very  well,  as  they  were  permitted 
to  go  at  large.  Major  Iturbide  is  one  of  the  finest  looking  men 
I  ever  saw — a  perfect  model  of  the  high-toned  Castilian  gen 
tleman.  He  is  about  a  medium  size,  perhaps  a  little  inclined 
to  corpulency,  with  a  bright  piercing  eye,  and  large  black  mus 
tache,  while  his  open  countenance  and  fine  manly  features  seem 
almost  constantly  lit  up  with  a  bland  and  beaming  smile,  which 
indicates  a  generous  heart,  and  a  kind  and  amiable  disposition, 
lit  it  a  Huefel  deitendant  of  Don  Augustine  J turbid*,  the  first 


228  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

President  of  the  Mexican  Republic,  and  whom  the  people  and 
army  of  the  Capital,  in  their  wild  and  overwrought  enthusiasm, 
proclaimed  Emperor  of  Mexico-  on  the  18th  of  May,  1822, 
under  the  royal  and  imposing  title  of  "  Augustin  the  First."  1 
saw  nothing  very  striking  about  Colonel  La  Vega,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  a  pair  of  huge  spurs  which  ornamented  the  heel  of 
his  dashing  military  boots,  the  rowels  of  which  must  have  mea 
sured,  at  least,  six  inches  in  circumference.  He  is  rather 
small,  with  a  somewhat  feminine  face,  and  has  a  very  youthful 
appearance  for  one  of  his  rank  in  the  army  He  is  probably 
a  relation  of  General  La  Vega,  who  was  taken  prisoner  at  Re- 
saca  de  la  Palma,  and  afterwards  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  who  was 
engaged  to  be  married  at  the  close  of  the  war  to  a  most  wealthy 
and  accomplished  lady  of  New  Orleans.  I  hope  he  may  be 
more  successful  in  the  wars  of  Cupid  than  he  was  in  those  of 
Mars. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  General  Lane  arrived 
in  the  evening.  Captain  Herron,  with  his  company  of  Pennsyl 
vania  volunteers,  bj  the  consent  ol  the  commander  of  the  post, 
passed  our  line  of  sentinels  and  proceeded  towards  the  Grand 
Plaza,  supposing,  as  he  did,  that  the  enemy  .had  principally 
drawn  off  his  forces,  and  that  he  could  move  a  short  distance 
in  that  direction  with  safety,  which  he  did  for  the  purpose  of 
reconnoitering  and  ascertaining  what  direction  the  enemy  might 
take  in  leaving  the  city.  But  in  this  he  was  disappointed,  for  a 
little  before  reaching  the  plaza  he  found  himself  suddenly  sur 
rounded  by  a  large  body  of  lancers,  to  the  number  of  some  five 
or  six  hundred;  and  but  for  the  timely  arrival  of  aid  from  the 
Cuartel,  he  would  most  inevitably  have  lost  every  man  in  a  very 
few  moments  more.  He  was  finally  enabled  to  cut  his  way 
through  the  surrounding  hosts  and  make  good  his  escape,  leav 
ing  seventeen  of  his  number  dead  upon  the  ground. 

The  battle  of  Huamantla-was  fought  on  the  9th  of  Novem 
ber,  and  by  2  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  12th,  the  advance 
guard  of  General  Lane's  command  reached  the  Grand  Plaza  in 
the  city  of  Puebla,  and  was  received  with  the  thunder  of  artil 
lery,  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  the  long  and  loud  shouts  of  the 
almost  frantic  garrison,  who  hailed  them  as  messengers  of 
mercy,  sent  by  a  kind  Providence  in  answer  to  ten  thousand 
prayers,  to  deliver  them  from  the  cruel  and  bloody  hands  of  their 
unfeeling  and  relentless  enemies. 


IN  MEXICO.  229 

REPORT  OF  COLONEL  CHILDS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  MILITARY  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUEBLA, 
Puebla,  October  13,  1847. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  after  twenty-eight  days 
close  investment,  the  enemy  yesterday  raised  the  siege,  and 
left  for  Atlixco. 

I  will  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  submit  to  the  Gene 
ral-in-Chief  a  brief  account  of  the  operations  of  the  troops  at 
this  point,  from  the  period  of  my  assuming  command,  to  the 
termination  of  the  siege,  and  the  arrival  of  Brigadier  General 
Lane  with  reinforcements.  On  entering  upon  the  duties  as 
civil  and  military  governor,  I  found  myself  in  command  of  Capt. 
Ford's  company  of  cavalry,  forty-six  strong ;  Captains  Ken- 
drick's  arid  Miller's  company  of  artillery,  numbering  100 ;  to 
gether  with  six  companies  of  the  first  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Black — his  total  effective 
strength  being  247 — and  hospitals  filled  with  1800  sick. 

With  this  command,  San  Jose,  the  grand  depot  in  the  city, 
Loretto,  and  Guadaloupe,  were  to  be  garrisoned,  and  held  against 
the  combined  efforts  of  the  military  and  populace.  The  isola 
ted  position  selected  for  the  hospitals  compelled  me  to  remove 
them  within  the  protection  of  San  Jose,  on  the  first  demonstra 
tion  of  hostility.  This  was  not  long  in  exhibiting  itself,  when 
I  put  myself,  with  such  means  as  I  had  at  rny  disposal,  in  the 
best  possible  state  for  defence ;  confining  my  efforts  to  the 
squares  immediately  round  San  Jose  ;  and  from  these  points 
the  enemy,  during  the  entire  siege,  were  not  able  to  force  in 
(but  for  a  single  moment)  a  sentinel. 

No  open  acts  of  hostility,  other  than  the  murdering  of  strag 
gling  soldiers,  occurred  until  the  night  of  the  13th  of  September, 
when  a  fire  was  opened  from  some  of  the  streets.  On  the 
night  of  the  14th  it  recommenced,  and  from  every  street,  with 
a  violence  that  knew  of  no  cessation  for  twenty-eight  days  and 
nights.  • 

The  enemy,  with  their  numerous  cavalry  succeeded  in  cut 
ting  off,  at  once,  every  kind  of  supply,  and  vainly  attempted  to 
change  the  current  of  the  stream  of  water,  that  we  might  be 
come  a  more  easy  prey.  The  night,  however,  before  the  cat 
tle  and  sheep  disappeared  from  the  vicinity,  two  well-directed 
parties  obtained  30  of  the  former,  and  400  of  the  latter.  The 
various  points  to  be  defended  for  the  preservation  of  San  Jose, 
on  which  the  safety  of  the  other  posts  depended,  demanded  the 
untiring  vigilance  of  every  officer  and  man. 


230  gfcOTT'g    CAMPAIGN 


The  enemy  augmented  in  numbers  daily,  and  daily  the  firing 
was  increased  ;  and  finally,  on  the  22d  of  September,  General 
Santa  Anna  arrived  with  a  large  reinforcement  from  Mexico, 
much  to  the  delight  of  the  besiegers,  on  which  occasion  a  ge 
neral  ringing  of  bolls  took  place,  and  was  only  stopped,  as  it 
had  been  several  times  before,  by  a  discharge  of  shells  and 
round-shot  from  Fort  Loretto  into  the  neart  of  the  city.  On 
the  25th  of  September,  General  Santa  Anna  demanded  my 
surrender.  A  copy  of  his  demand,  together  with  the  reply, 
are  herewith  enclosed,  marked  A. 

I  here  beg  leave  to  pay  a  passing  tribute  to  my  gallant  troops. 
So  soon  as  I  had  despatched  my  answer,  I  supposed  not  a  mo 
ment  would  be  lost  by  the  general  who  was  to  attack  me  at  all 
points  with  his  8,000  troops.  1  rode  to  the  different  posts,  and 
announced  to  the  troops  the  demand,  the  force  with  which  it  was 
backed,  and  my  reply.  Their  response  convinced  me  that  all 
was  safe  ;  that  a  hard  and  bloody  battle  must  be  fought  ere  the 
great  captain  of  Mexico  would  overcome  my  little  band.  The 
point  of  attack  was  San  Jose,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Colonel 
Black,  with  Captain  Ford's  company  of  cavalry,  and  Captain 
Miller's  company  of  4th  artillery,  and  four  companies  of  his 
own  regiment,  and  one  hospital,  the  guard  of  which  was  in 
command  of  Captain  Rowe,  of  the  9th  regiment  of  infantry. 

The  duty  required  of  this  command,  as  1  have  before  ob 
served,  in  consequence  of  the  various  points  to  be  defended, 
demanded  an  untiring  effort  on  the  part  of  every  officer  and 
soldier.  A  shower  of  bullets  was  constantly  poured  from  the 
streets,  the  balconies,  the  house-tops,  and  churches,  upon  their 
devoted  heads.  Never  did  troops  endure  more  fatigue  by  watch 
ing  night  after  night,  for  more  than  thirty  successive  nights, 
nor  exhibit  more  patience,  spirit,  and  gallantry.  Not  a  post  of 
danger  could  present  itself,  but  the  gallant  fellows  were  ready 
to  fill  it.  Not  a  sentinel  could  be  shot,  but  another  was  anx 
ious  and  ready  to  take  his  place.  Officers  and  soldiers  vied 
with  each  other  to  be  honored  martyrs  in  their  country's  cause. 
This  is  the  general  character  of  the  troops  I  had  the  honor  to 
command,  and  I  was  confident  the  crown  of  victory  would 
perch  upon  their  standard  when  the  last  great  effort  should  be 
made.  Their  bold  and  determined  front  deprived  them  of  what 
they  anxiously  desired. 

On  the  30th  ult.  General  Santa  Anna  had  established  his  bat- 
tery   bearing  upon  San   Jose,   and  opened  with  much  spirit. 
Having  anticipated  his  movement,  1  had  thrown  up  a  traverse. 
on  the  plaza,  and  withdrawn   *  twelve-pounder  from  Loretto, 


IN  MBM«0,  981 

bj  which  means  I  was  enabled  to  answer  his  shot.  Towards 
night  his  battery  ceased,  and  on  the  next  morning  was  with 
drawn,  together  with  from  3  to  4,000  of  the  besieging  force,  to 
meet  the  reinforcements  then  daily  expected  at  Final.  On  the 
2d  instant  I  availed  myself  of  some  reduction  of  the  enemy's 
numbers  to  make  a  sortie  against  certain  barricades  and" build 
ings,  whose  fire  had  become  very  annoying.  One  of  the  expe 
ditions  was  confided  to  Captain  Small,  of  the  first  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  Passing  through  the  walls  of  an  entire  square  with 
fifty  men,  he  gained  a  position  opposite  the  barricade,  and  drove 
the  enemy  with  great  loss,  they  leaving  seventeen  dead  on  the 
ground.  The  barricade  consisting  of  150  bales  of  cotton,  was 
consumed.  In  this  affair  Captain  Small  and  his  command  be 
haved  with  great  gallantry,  and  for  twenty-four  hours  were  un 
ceasing  in  their  labors  in  accomplishing  the  object,  when  I 
sent  Lieutenant  Laidly  of  the  ordnance,  to  blowup  a  prominent 
building,  which  was  done  by  that  excellent  officer  in  good 
style,  when  the  entire  party  was  withdrawn,  with  few  wounded. 

At  the  same  time  Lieutenant  Morgan,  of  the  14th  regiment, 
with  a  detachment  of  marines,  and  Lieutenant  Merrifield,  of 
the  15th  regiment,  with  a  detachment  of  rifles,  attempted  to 
gain  possession  of  certain  buildings  from  which  we  were  re 
ceiving  a  most  galling  tire.  Lieutenant  Merrifield  entered  the 
building.  Lieutenant  Morgan  was  not  so  fortunate.  The  en 
emy  being  present  in  great  force,  I  directed  him  to  fall  back, 
with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed.  On  the  5th  instant  Captain 
Herron  was  detached  with  his  company  to  take  possession  of  a 
building,  from  which  the  enemy  had  been  enfilading  the  Plaza. 
This  he  did  in  a  very  handsome  manner,  and  to  my  entire  sat 
isfaction,  with  only  a  few  men  wounded.  Other  minor  acts  of 
gallantry  and  good  conduct  were  exhibited  by  officers  and  men 
at  San  Jose ;  and  from  Guadaloupe  one  or  two  successful  sor 
ties  were  made  upon  the  enemy,  when  engaged  in  their  daily 
attacks  on  San  Jose. 

From  Lieutenant  Colonel  Black,  the  immediate  commander 
of  San  Jose,  and  his  officers,  I  have  received  the  most  cordial 
support.  Colonel  Black,  for  more  than  thirty  days,  was  untir 
ing  in  his  efforts  and  zeal  for  the  safety  of  that  point.  Officers 
and  men  were  at  their  posts  night  and  day,  without  regarding 
the  pelting  storm;  and  I  cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of  the 
gallant  Colonel,  his  officers  and  men,  before  and  during  the 
siege.  Lieutenant  Laidley,  of  the  ordnance  corps,  commanded 
the  12-pounder,  the  mountain  howitzer,  and  four  rocket  batte 
ries  at  the  barricade,  and  there  stationed  himself  night  after 


232  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN 

night ;  and  as  often  as  these  batteries  were  opened,  it  was  with 
effect.  Captain  Ford,  commanding  the  cavalry,  although  no 
opportunity  occurred,  in  consequence  of  the  limited  number  of 
troops,  to  engage  the  enemy,  was  at  all  times  ready.  Captain 
Miller,  of  the  8th  artillery,  was  particularly  successful  in  man 
aging  the  12-pounder,  in  one  of  the  general  attacks,  and  showed 
himself  a  good  officer  and  skilful  artillerist. 

Major  Gwyn,  commanding  Loretto,  although  not  attacked, 
was  vigilant,  and  his  command  was  of  .great  assistance  to  me. 
Several  detachments  from  his  post  occupied  exposed  points,  and 
received  heavy  fires  from  the  enemy,  especially  detachments 
under  Lieutenants  Carroll  and  Moore,  who,  for  forty-eight 
hours,  stood  their  guard,  and  were  of  essential  service  to  me. 
I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  Captain  Kendrick  and  his  man 
agement  of  his  batteries.  His  shells  and  shot  fell  beautifully 
upon  the  houses  and  churches,  where  the  enemy  were  in  great 
numbers.  Wherever  his  shot  took  effect  the  firing  of  the  enemy 
ceased.  The  limited  number  of  these  missiles  compelled  us 
to  use  them  with  great  caution.  I  am  much,  very  much,  in 
debted  to  Captain  Kendrick  for  his  vigilance  and  exertion  be 
fore  and  during  the  siege.  I  will  take  this  occasion  to  mention 
Sergeant  Owell,  of  Company  B,  2d  artillery,  as  a  most  skilful 
artillerist.  I  never  saw  shot  thrown  with  more  accuracy  than 
from  his  gun. 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  speaking  of  Captain  Morehead, 
commanding  Gauclaloupe.  The  place  and  defenses  were  in  a 
most  dilapidated  condition.  Captain  Morehead,  with  his  com 
mand,  succeeded  in  placing  himself  in  a  perfect  state  of  defense, 
by  great  and  constant  labor.  The  enemy  several  times  felt 
him,  but  finding  him  always  on  the  alert,  made  no  serious  at 
tack.  By  sorties  upon  the  enemy,  when  attacking  San  Jose, 
he  was  of  essential  service  to  us,  and  killed  many  of  them.  I 
consider  him  an  excellent  and  gallant -officer. 

Lieutenant .Edwards,  2d  artillery,  in  charge  of  the  mountain 
howitzer,  threw  his  shells  with  great  accuracy,  and  commanded 
a  successful  sortie.  To  Captain  Rowe,  of  the  9th  infantry, 
who  commanded  the  guard  of  one  of  the  hospitals,  (a  constant 
point  of  attack  both  day  and  night,)  I  am  greatly  indebted  for 
his  able  defence  of  that  position,  and  his  gallant  bearing  before 
the  enemy. 

To  Surgeon  Mills,  Chief  of  the  Medical  Department,  and  to 
his  assistants,  great  praise  is  duo  for  their  unwearied  services. 
Left  with  1,800  sick,  and  limited  supplies,  with  but  six  assist 
ants,  their  utmost  exertions  were  necessary  to  administer 


IN  MEXICO.  233 

timely  remedies  to  so  many  patients.  Their  attention  to  the 
wounded  deserves  my  attention  and  thanks.  These  gentlemen 
were  not  only  occupied  in  their  professional  dutie*s,  but  the 
want  of  officers  and  men  compelled  me  to  make  large  requisi 
tions  for  the  defense  of  the  hospitals,  on  surgeons  and  invalids, 
and  they  were  nightly  on  guard,  marshalling  their  men  upon 
roofs  and  other  points.  To  them  I  am  greatly  indebted. 

Captain  Webster,  A.  Q.  Master,  and  Lieutenant  Rhett,  A. 
C.  S.,  rendered  valuable  services  in  defending  their  premises 
with  men  in  their  employ;  and  with  men  in  the  Quartermaster's 
Department  I  was  enabled  to  occupy  a  position  that  was  all- 
important,  and  to  which  T  had  neither  officers  nor  soldiers  to 
send.  Messrs.  Spencer  and  Brown  were  particularly  active 
and  of  great  service.  I  should  be  unjust  to  myself,  and  to  the 
spy  company  under  Captain  Pedro  Arria,  if  I  did  not  call  the 
attention  of  the  General-in-Chief  to  their  invaluable  services. 
From  them  I  received  the  most  accurate  information  of  the 
movements  of  the  enemy  and  the  designs  of  the  citizens ;  through 
them  I  was  enabled  to  apprehend  several  officers  and  citizens 
in  their  nightly  meetings  to  consummate  their  plans  for  raising 
the  populace.  The  spy  company  fought  gallanllv,  and  are  now 
so  compromised  that  they  must  leave  the  country  when  our 
army  retires. 

I  have  now  only  to  speak  of  my  A.  A.  A.  General,  Mr. 
Waelder,  of  the  first  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  my  Secretary, 
Mr.  Wengierski.  The  gallant  charge  of  Lieutenant  Waelder 
upon  the  enemy,  although  rash,  exhibits  him  as  an  officer  not 
to  be  intimidated  by  numbers.  His  duties  have  been  arduous 
and  dangerous,  having  daily  to  carry  orders  through  the  thickest 
of  the  fire.  I  take  great  pleasure  in  recommending  him  to  the 
favorable  notice  of  the  General-in-Chief.  To  Mr.  Wengierski, 
secretary  and  translator,  I  am  much  indebted  for  invaluable 
services.  Mr.  W.,  in  addition  to  his  appropriate  duties,  con 
ducted  the  operations  of  the  spy  company,  and  through  his 
suggestions  and  active  exertions,  I  received  much  valuable  in 
formation,  and  many  successful  expeditions  of  spies  into  the 
city  were  made.  Mr.  W.  commanded  the  detachment  on  the 
roof  of  my  quarters,  and  was  the  first  man  wounded.  From  his 
after  efforts,  his  wound  proved  severe  and  painful;  still  he  per 
formed  his  various  duties,  night  and  day,  and  is  worthy  of  my 
approbation. 

1  regret  that  the  health  of  Captain  De  Hart,  Lieutenant 
Governor,  prevented  him  from  taking  an  active  part  in  the  stir- 
ring  scenes  I  have  related,  and  in  which  he  was  so  anxious  to 


234  SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN. 

participate.  Until  confined  to  his  quarters  by  sickness,  he  was 
of  great  assistance  to  me  in  directing  the  defenses  of  Guada- 
lotipe,  and  heading  a  command  into  the  city  to  disperse  the 
populace.  I  herewith  enclose  a  return  of  the  killed  and  wound- 
ed,  together  with  the  sub-reports. 

Respectfully  submitted.  THOMAS  CHILDS, 

Colonel  U.  S.  A.,  Civil  and  Military  Governor. 
To  Captain  II.  L.  SCOTT,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Head  Quarters  of  the  Army,  Mexico. 


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